Our Am Bàta boatbuilding collaboration has been running for ten years now between Plockton High School’s Technology department and Mark Stockl, a professional boatbuilder based in Ullapool. The project was started in response to many of our young people leaving school and leaving the area as a result of limited opportunities locally. Our aim has always been, and continues to be, for pupils to build their entrepreneurial capacity, work through and deal with problems in collaboration with others whilst developing strong employability skills. This happens through the practical experience of building a new boat and carrying out repairs, all commissioned by private clients over a school year.

Since its inception in 2007, Am Bàta has served the local and wider community having built and repaired in excess of twenty boats. This year’s cohort of eight students are busy completing the build of a 15ft long inboard motor launch, a first for us, building a boat to incorporate an inboard engine, for a client on the Isle of Skye. We have also commenced the high profile restoration of “The Lady’s Boat” a 180 year old Norwegian designed rowing boat, to be displayed publically at a venue also on Skye. We have had specialists in to our boat shed here at the school to advise on the best course of action to preserve the boat as considerately as possible.

Our record of serving and supporting the community through what is a unique venture has won favourable reviews from the local, national and international press and with that a good reputation. Resultantly, we have orders for further new builds and a healthy list of repairs awaiting our attention over the coming year or two. We recognise and value the continued support from our school and community which, in part, permits us to continue the program.

As you can imagine though, the time we take to complete repairs and new builds is significantly longer than a commercial enterprise would, as the tuition is time consuming. We also are unable to charge commercial rates for builds as our boats are built by students –under our tutor's watchful eye of course. This results in a shortfall of income against our costs and this is where we are asking for your potential support.

Our boatbuilding course is the only one of its kind in Scotland that is accredited by the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) and recently received an excellent verification result by the SQA.

We currently have three new boats lined up to be built, and at least six customers waiting for repairs to be completed, and we have a good number of very talented pupils waiting to hear if the course id going to resume in the coming months.

All we need is your help.

Thankyou.