04/08/2026
What a fantastic summer programme we've had! ☀️
This summer we were joined by Rory Green from Lochaber Archive Centre, who helped us deliver a three-week summer programme for our young people.
Over the three weeks, we learned all about Fort William and the rich history of our town.
📸 Week 1
We kicked things off by getting to know each other through some fun games led by Jason and Janice from The Salvation Army. We then took a walk along our local High Street, where our young people had the opportunity to take photographs using disposable cameras. The hope is that we can print these and lodge them with the Lochaber Archive Centre. Our High Street is always changing—how amazing will it be for these children to look back on these photos when they're older?
📚 Week 2
Our young people kept their cameras at home during the week before returning them to be developed. Rory kindly gave us a tour of the Archive Centre, where we got to see the rooms that preserve our local history. From old police records to historic photographs, there was so much to discover!
The young people also made memory boxes—a special place to keep treasured items and memories for years to come.
🎉 Week 3
We finally got our photographs back! Our young people loved looking through them, sharing their favourite images, and telling us the stories behind each one and why it was meaningful to them.
As part of the project, we also completed a Youth Scotland Hi-5 Award, and we're delighted to say that every child who took part will be receiving their certificate very soon!
To celebrate, we took one final walk along the High Street and visited Nevis Bakery to enjoy some delicious locally baked treats. Did you know that Nevis Bakery has been part of Fort William since 1980? 🍰
A huge well done to all of our amazing young people, and a heartfelt thank you to our volunteers and staff for their enthusiasm and dedication in making this project such a success. We hope everyone has created memories that will last a lifetime! ❤️
