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One of the biggest problems facing communities such as Assynt is the lack of jobs for younger folk.  Inevitably, after finishing school, young folk go off to university or college, which is a great thing.  I think the percentage of local youngsters getting into uni is very high.  And many would love nothing better than to return to their home to live and work.  But therein lies the rub - there are not enough of the right kind of jobs for graduates, and so they are forced to move away to work elsewhere, and few return on a permanent basis.   And it is for this very reason that I was happy to join Top Left Corner, as one of our aims is to promote the arts and crafts among children of school age, as if they are made aware of the incredibly wide range of arts and crafts, then they may find something that they come to love and feel passionate about enough to study further, and that, in turn, will perhaps enable them to return and live and work in Assynt.

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One person who has done just that is the very talented Barbara Macleod.   Barbara is a graduate of the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design and a previous recipient of the prestigious Goldsmiths Precious Metal Award Bursary.

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Barbara's style is one I've never seen before, and her skill is obvious.   For me she stands as a shining example to other young people hoping to follow a career in the arts field, and needless to say she's been persuaded to run a jewellery making course later this year, so watch this space for dates.

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Go and look at her website!  There is so much to see there.