Charity is quids in
Grammar raise funds forthe Haven
A group of S5 pupils from Hamilton Grammar used their philanthropic skills to earn a whopping £3000 for Lanarkshire-based charity The Haven.
The youngsters scooped the money after taking part in the popular Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI).
It is an active citizenship programme that raises awareness amongst young people about their community.
Each participating school is responsible for directing a £3000 YPI grant to a local charity through team work, research and competition.
It is all about creativity and passion, leaving the four walls of the classroom behind, and supporting the issues young people care most about.
This year the finalists from Hamilton Grammar represented a wide range of deserving charities from across Lanarkshire.
These included St Andrew’s Hospice, The Chill Out Club Hamilton, Lanarkshire Association for Mental Health, Guide Dogs Scotland, Women’s Aid and The Haven Centre.
Each group presented in front of their fifth-year peer groups and were judged by Hamilton Grammar head boy Jack Burn, head girl Shona Swan, head teacher Graeme Sives and YPI representative Alistair Cairns.
And the decision was made to award the £3000 YPI grant to Euan Mccallum and Nicole Cunningham for their presentation on behalf of The Haven Centre in Blantyre.
The Haven offers a programme of support designed to help individuals cope with the physical, emotional and practical aspects of illnesses such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease and Parkinson’s disease and supports them to face the future with hope.
There are Haven centres in Blantyre, Forth and Wishaw. They operate drop-in centres with no need for medical referral and all services are provided free of charge. The Haven team of specialist nurses, therapists, and volunteers work closely together to provide the highest standard of care.
Family support worker Caroline Lister worked as a liaison between the pupils and The Haven centre and said of the experience: “I was extremely proud of both Euan and Nicole and how well they represented The Haven during the YPI.
“The £3000 awarded will enable The Haven to support even more individuals and families in the Lanarkshire area who are affected by life-limiting illness or who are bereaved.
“I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you from everyone at The Haven for this award and extend a very special thank you to Euan and Nicole for caring and wanting to make a real difference to families living in our community.”
Head teacher Mr Sives added: “This year’s final saw some incredibly passionate presentations from our young people. Nicole and Euan have really embraced YPI and have made links with the charity that will go beyond their work in school. Their approach truly demonstrates the overall vision of the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative.”