Callander Primary School Volunteers Praised for Community Work

As progress continues at pace to complete construction of the new Callander Primary School, volunteers have been praised for their work in the local community.

Teams engaged with helping to deliver the new facility have taken part in ‘Helping Hands’ volunteering initiatives to provide support to local charities within the catchment area of Callander Primary School.

Kier Construction, hub East Central Scotland and Stirling Council provided volunteers to carry out small scale refurbishments and enhancement works for the Ripple Retreat, a cancer respite charity based near Loch Venachar. As part of this, work to repair areas of the facility to reduce risks of slips, trips and falls have been carried out.

Similar works were carried out to support Lunar Eclipse EFL Therapy Horses, an organisation who support children, young people and adults with additional support needs, individuals experiencing mental health challenges, and residents within care homes and hospices.

Social Work and Education Convener, Cllr Bob Buchanan said: “I’m delighted to see the commitment to the community by contractors who are delivering the new Callander Primary School through the generous use of their time and skills to support local organisations.

“Work continues to progress at pace on the new school, which is nearing completion and will provide modern and state of the art facility for local children and young people. 

“Investing in our learning infrastructure is key priority. As well as the development of the new Callander Primary School, we are extending the new ASN learning hub at Bannockburn High School and delivering the new Corbiewood Primary School to serve the emerging South Stirling Gateway community.”

Brian Craig, Chief Executive, hub East Central Scotland, said: “We created the Helping Hands initiative to provide additional support for the communities that we serve. Our team have worked closely with Kier, Stirling Council and the supply chain in a collaboration that has provided a range of skills, labour and materials worth £40,000 to enhance facilities for Ripple Retreat and Lunar Eclipse EFL Therapy Horses.”

Philip McDowell, regional director for Kier Construction North & Scotland, said: “At Kier, we are committed to creating a positive legacy in the communities where we work, and these Helping Hands initiatives are a great example of that commitment in action. Our team has been proud to support local organisations such as Ripple Retreat and Lunar Eclipse EFL Therapy Horses, helping to improve facilities that provide invaluable support to people across the Callander area. 

“As construction of the new Callander Primary School continues to make excellent progress, it is important that we also invest our time and skills in the wider community, ensuring the benefits of this project are felt long before the school opens its doors, and leave a lasting impact long after we’ve left.”

A new Callander Community Campus will be created from the major development, with the new primary school located alongside Callander Nursery, McLaren High School and McLaren Leisure Centre. The recently completed Katrine House at McLaren High School will also provide new ASN educational facilities for secondary pupils in the area.

Stirling Council approved funding of £23 million to deliver a brand new primary school in the area as part of its capital investment programme. The project is being led by construction partners Kier and Hub East Central Scotland and is being supported by funding from the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP).