Pioneering pupils ‘a credit’ to Lochgilphead
Back in the mists of time before coronavirus shut down schools – early March to be precise – senior Lochgilphead High School pupils were completing a ground-breaking course at the MS Centre.
As part of a Skills for Work health sector course, sixth-year pupils visited the Lochgilphead centre, but this was no out-of-school jolly. On top of training, the young people went through an application and mock interview process to become volunteers at the MS Centre Mid Argyll.
It was all part of a pioneering course entitled Digesting Science, teaching them about Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
The project was run for the first time as a three-way partnership between Argyll College, Lochgilphead High School and the MS Centre Mid Argyll.
Digesting Science was designed by Barts MS Research team at Queen Mary University of London to teach children about a parent’s MS in an ingenious, fun and hands-on way.
The young Lochgilphead students learned the science behind MS to increase their understanding of the more invisible aspects of the condition.
Treatments were also explained, as was the influence of vitamin D on the condition. Symptoms
There was the opportunity to discover more about the science behind why MS symptoms occur and experience what symptoms actually feel like.
Four pupils – Luke Mulholland, Amy Owen, Lily Young and Yasmine Bowden – attended the centre each Monday since November last year.
After passing their interviews with flying colours, they were trained by Argyll College tutor Linda Brown using practical methods to demonstrate the science behind, and physical impact of, MS on the body.
Armed with their newlygained knowledge, the quartet then offered training to members of the Brain Fog MS peer support group.
Amy Owen said: ‘This has given us the chance to talk to folk with MS and to find out what it’s like for them.
‘We learn about it at college but here we can talk to people about their own experiences.’
Linda Brown explained: ‘It brings the world of work into the classroom and essentially they are volunteers within the centre.
‘These students are a credit to Lochgilphead.’
MS Centre manager Karen McCurry added: ‘I’m so proud of these young people and want everyone to know how well they have done.’
The Digesting Science course was funded by Argyll and Bute Health and Wellbeing Network and Islay Energy Community Benefit Fund.