Young Gaelic Ambassador 2019
Lucy Hannah, Manager at Fàs Mòr childcare, has been awarded the Young Gaelic Ambassador award at the 2019 Daily Record Gaelic Awards.
Hailing from Sleat, on Skye, Lucy has been working at Fàs Mòr for over three years. She and her team have created a safe, nurturing and playful environment for children to use and develop their Gaelic language skills.
Lucy was a grade A pupil throughout primary in Sleat and high school in Portree and with a keen interest in teaching, decided to spend some time as a Playworker at Fàs Mòr while considering her options. But she enjoyed the work so much she stayed on and was offered the role of trainee Manager. Having completed her SVQ3 she is now in her second year of the BA Childhood Practice as part of her professional development programme.
Speaking on behalf of the Fàs Mòr Board, Nicola Thomson said: “Lucy – or Lucy Mhòr (Big Lucy) as the wee ones fondly refer to her – is just ideal for this role. She is a genuine ambassador to others in this area who might wish to stay on the island or are wondering what opportunities might be out there for a successful career in Gaelic. She has such an encouraging nature to the children, the parents and her own team.
“Through the years, it is interesting to see the positive impact a place like Fàs Mòr, due to the likes of Lucy and her team, has had on children and families, as they then consider progressing to Sgoil-àraich and Gaelic-medium education in school, often making the decision and transition easier.
“We are delighted that Lucy has been recognised in this way. She is such an asset to Fàs Mòr and we are very fortunate to have her on the team. As all the parents often say, “Everyone needs a Lucy Mhòr!”
Lucy’s mother, Claire Munro, was one of the founders of Fàs Mòr, which opened back in 2004 as a response to the lack of childcare services locally. Lucy herself was in the first cohort of children to use the service and so it is rather fitting that she should be recognised now in this role.
(Photos: Lucy collecting her award. Lucy with her mother, Claire Munro, and Lucy’s partner, Peter MacCusbic.)
Fàs Mòr is a childcare centre based at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig offering 0-12 daycare through the medium of Gaelic, 48 weeks of the year. Children from south Skye and Lochalsh currently use the facility although it is open to anyone. Sabhal Mòr Ostaig currently offers a Foundation Apprenticeship in Children and Young People for S5/S6 pupils and Fàs Mòr is one of the placements for this course. Fàs Mòr is inspected by the Care Inspectorate and is registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). Fàs Mòr is a company limited by guarantee and a registered Scottish charity. Contact: Nicola Thomson, Fàs Mòr Board, 01471 888 301, nnt.smo@uhi.ac.uk