Scottish Government
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More funding for Eco-Schools

£440,000 for international environmental schools programme.

The internationally recognised Eco-Schools programme in Scotland will receive increased funding for 2015-16, the Acting Minister for Children and Young People Fiona McLeod confirmed yesterday.

The Minister made the announcement during a visit to Busy Bee Nursery in Fife. In February this year the nursery achieved a second green flag award for its work in teaching children about environmental issues and involving the wider community in sustainable development projects.

Keep Scotland Beautiful will receive £440,000 funding this year – up £40,000 on last year – to manage the Eco-Schools Scotland programme. Over 98 per cent of Scottish schools currently participate in the programme with 3,747 schools registered and 841,835 pupils involved.

Ms McLeod said:

“I’m delighted we can continue to provide funding for Keep Scotland Beautiful to allow their good work with Scotland’s schools to continue.

“Protecting our natural environment is vital and, by taking part in this programme, children can make a real difference from an early age. These are skills they can take with them through life so they can continue to be environmentally friendly citizens.”

Derek Robertson, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful said:

“We welcome the reaffirmation of the Scottish Government’s commitment to fund the Eco-Schools Scotland programme – which provides the foundation for how schools and Early Learning and Childcare Centres engage with learning for sustainability, within curriculum for excellence - until March 2016.

“Keep Scotland Beautiful is committed to supporting all our children and young people to develop the capacities, skills and attributes required for learning, living and working in a changing world and a global context.

“I would like to acknowledge the dedication of the thousands of educators, like those at Busy Bee Nursery in Newport-on-Tay, without which the programme wouldn’t be the success it is; reaching more than 800,000 children and young people across Scotland.”

Notes To Editors

Keep Scotland Beautiful is the charity for Scotland’s environment, providing sustainable development education initiatives in the classroom and beyond, encouraging action and behavioural change which will leave an enduring legacy for Scotland. They work to make Scotland clean, green and more sustainable.

Keep Scotland Beautiful is reshaping Eco-Schools Scotland around the needs of learners and schools. Further information about these changes can be found here.

 

Channel website: http://www.gov.scot/

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