Official Opening of Forfar Community Campus

Forfar Community Campus was officially declared open as Angus Depute Provost Colin Brown was joined by one of the school’s younger pupils, first year Stephen Langdon, in revealing the ceremonial plaque before an audience that included invited dignitaries, guests and pupils. The Depute Provost said: “Forfar Community Campus is a multi-million pound investment in all our futures – a modern campus purpose-built for our pupils and everyone in our community. “It will provide an environment where our young people can excel and develop the life-skills that will serve them in good stead as they pass into adulthood. It is also a place where people of all ages can gather to enjoy a great wealth of sport, leisure and entertainment, as well as enjoying a variety of learning opportunities and one another’s company. “This state-of-the-art facility is the beating heart of the Forfar community, uniting the rich 200-year history of Forfar Academy with the modern facilities provided by ANGUSalive’s exciting culture, leisure and sports provision and the various adult and youth groups that are run by our communities team. “Partnership working has driven this project from the outset. Partnership working between hub East Central Scotland, Robertson Construction, the Design Team and Angus Council that has ensured that Forfar Community Campus is accessible to all. “It is a place for all the community. A place we can all be proud of.” The community campus accommodates Forfar Academy, Angusalive and the council's communities team, along with Dundee and Angus College and the wider community. The ambitions of all those involved in delivering the campus was to provide a modern, accessible, safe and secure environment to provide the best of culture, leisure and sport facilities for the school, local clubs and group and the wider community. Forfar Academy’s unique and individual identity is retained and enhanced within the campus, which provides the space, resources and technology to learn and grow. The same is true for the community, through a programme of learning activities provided at the campus, with subjects including employability, adult literacy, English for adult speakers of other languages and youth activities. Gary Bushnell, Chief Executive, hub East Central Scotland, who developed the building in partnership with Angus Council, said: “We worked closely with Angus Council to deliver this major project at best value for the community. It's fantastic to see the Campus now in daily use providing a modern learning environment, along with excellent sport and leisure facilities for all.” The culture, sports and leisure facilities delivered by the charitable trust ANGUSalive are extensive and superb. Kirsty Hunter, Chief executive, ANGUSalive said: “ANGUSalive is thrilled to be able to offer enhanced sport and leisure facilities to our communities from the first-class amenities at Forfar Community Campus. As we propel our aim to inspire healthy, active and creative lifestyle choices; we are starting to achieve this through expansion of our junior and adult activities, including new events and activities such as children’s holiday camps and adult group free weight sessions. We now also have more bookable space to host group meetings and little ones’ birthday parties – as well as any group performance “We will continue to engage closely with the school and community to maximise the benefits for all of Forfar Community Campus.” The campus boasts an impressive range of facilities for the community ,including - a 25m, six-lane swimming pool, a studio pool with a movable depth floor, a double main games hall, gymnasium, a 50-station fitness suite, dance studios, sauna and steam room, a squash court, grass seven-a-side pitches and two full size football pitches (one grass, one floodlit and synthetic), and a floodlit MUGA (multi-use games area) pitch, which includes three tennis courts. There is a café operated by Madisons of Montrose, a crèche and various meeting rooms available for booking. And there is also a Theatre that provides a performance venue for drama and concerts, as well as other events, including conferences, workshops and meetings.