Eco-friendly Christmas tree sparks inclusivity at Inverness train station
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SCHOOL students in Inverness took part in an inclusivity project by decorating a Christmas tree now on display at the city's train station.
Pupils from Inverness High School who participate in Can Do, a skills development programme organised by charity Leonard Cheshire in Scotland, have decided to give back to the local community by building an environmentally friendly Christmas tree entirely out of old, scratched CDs and DVDs that could not be sold donated by the local Forces charity shop.
Lynsey Macdonald, teacher at Inverness High School, said: “Our pupils have really enjoyed the experience of making something that the local community can enjoy. They have shown great commitment by giving up their free periods to ensure the tree was finished on time.
“The Can Do programme has really boosted confidence. We hope the Christmas tree will raise the spirits of passengers who walk through the station!”
Can Do is a participant-led programme which encourages those aged 16 to 35 with additional support needs to gain new life skills through training and volunteering opportunities in the local community.
Jaye Jordan, from the Forces Support charity shop in Inverness, said: “The inclusivity of my team is something that I am incredibly proud of. We stand strongly with reducing waste and being at the forefront of our community and were ecstatic to be part of this amazing display.”
The students completed the decorative tree as part of their Can Do Building Communities project, with the aim to make the tree entirely out of recycled items.
The shiny mirrored backs of the discs will be the focal point of the train station during the festive season, which is visible from a distance for commuters.
Fiona Campbell, regional customer operations manager at Scotrail, said: “I am absolutely delighted that we were asked to display this fabulous Christmas tree in Inverness station, giving us the chance to recognise the fantastic work of the pupils from Inverness High School.
“Our railway stations are at the heart of our communities and ScotRail is committed to supporting local initiatives, like this one, whenever possible.
“I am a proud former pupil of Inverness High School and it is great to see the tree being cleverly crafted from recycled materials, which ties in with our recycling facilities within the station."
