Scottish pupils have impressed judges with their touching diary entries depicting the outbreak of war.
Liam McNamee, from Castleview Primary School in Edinburgh, and Maya Al-Najim, from The High School of Glasgow, have been announced as the winners of Poppyscotland’s My Secret War Diary competition.
Launching as part of the charity’s annual learning pack, the competition asked learners to write a diary entry depicting how the outbreak of war would impact their lives. With an open-ended brief, pupils were invited to draw on conflicts from past, present or future.
Liam, a P7 pupil, won the primary school category with his “unique perspective”, choosing to write from the point of a father struggling to process what the change would mean to his family. Maya, who is in S3, took the secondary prize with her “emotive and gripping” diary entry set in Belgium in 1914.
This year’s competition saw over 140 entries from schools all across Scotland. Eight judges from Poppyscotland, Legion Scotland and Officers’ Association Scotland came together to shortlist the entries down to 16 per category. After much deliberation from the judges these were further narrowed down to just six final entries per category.
The six finalists were made public on the Poppyscotland website for the public to choose their winners. With a phenomenal total of more than 1,400 votes cast across the ten days, the public chose Liam and Maya as their winners.
Gordon Michie, head of fundraising and learning at Poppyscotland, presented Liam with his award in front of his peers, saying: “It was a great pleasure to visit Castleview and present this year’s primary school winner with his certificate and the £500 vouchers for the school to use.
“Every year our team of judges are hard pressed to short list for the public voting. The creative thought and effort that all entrants put in is something that their schools are rightly proud off.
“However, Liam’s diary entry stood out and painted a picture through his words of what was happening in those early days of the Second World War. It made it very easy for me to think I was transported back to that time.”
Katie White, Liam’s class teacher, said: “Poppyscotland’s learning competition this year fitted seamlessly into our curriculum. It boosted my pupils’ awareness of Poppyscotland’s work and allowed them to further contextualise their learning about the Second World War. Having a competition to enter sparked enthusiasm amongst my learners and provided us with a whole term’s worth of writing work.
“I am incredibly proud of Liam’s win, as is he. Not only is it a huge personal achievement for him, but it is a wonderful way for him to finish his time at Castleview Primary School.”
Thomas Connor, a P7 pupil from Gargieston Primary School and Eva-Grace Young, an S3 pupil from St Joseph’s Academy, both in Kilmarnock, have also been recognised with the Judge’s Choice award for their thoughtful and emotive entries.
Both Liam and Maya will receive £500 worth of vouchers for their school, a visit from Bud, Poppyscotland’s micro museum, and a class trip to Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory. Each of the Judge’s Choice award recipients will receive £50 of vouchers for their school and a tour of the factory.
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More than 260 children from Edinburgh have taken part in storytelling sessions organised by Fort Kinnaird aimed at helping them fall in love with reading.
The event allowed children to listen to stories from professional storyteller Ron Fairweather and were part of the Young Readers Programme, an award-winning initiative sponsored by Fort Kinnaird co-owner British Land and run in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, that is designed to encourage children to read outside of the classroom.
Ron Fairweather has been writing and performing stories, songs, and poems for decades, including performing at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, the National Museum of Edinburgh, and The Scottish Storytelling Centre.
During the literacy-focussed events, pupils from Niddrie Mill Primary School, Brunstane Primary School, and Castleview Primary School were also able to take home a book of their choice.
This marks the twelfth year of British Land’s partnership with the National Literacy Trust, and since the programme launched at Fort Kinnaird, it has supported more than 2,500 school children and seen more than 7,600 books donated across Edinburgh.
Research by the National Literacy Trust has shown that owning a book means children are more likely to say they enjoy reading and are more inclined to read in their free time. However, 6.5% of children in the UK do not own a book, which equates to half a million children across the country*. This rises to one in 10 (9.7%) children from disadvantaged backgrounds, which is the demographic this partnership aims to reach.
With reading for enjoyment proven to have a positive effect on children’s reading skill* as well as their wellbeing and mental health, the Young Readers Programme initiative aims to give support and help with the development of children in under privileged areas by giving them access to books.
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Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “Supporting our community is very important to us, so we’re incredibly proud of the Young Readers Programme and all the local children and families we’ve been able to support in the last 12 years.
“It’s always very rewarding to hear how the children are inspired by the stories and start to get excited about reading and bringing their own books home.”
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Martin Galway, Head of School Programmes at the National Literacy Trust, said: “The right book, at the right moment, can change a child’s life.
“That’s what the Young Readers Programme has been doing with British Land for the last 12 years – giving children from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to experience enchanting storytelling events, and to choose books that speak to their interests and passions.
“Our goal is to spark a love of reading that will last them a lifetime, which in turn will empower them with the literacy skills they need to succeed.”
More than 180 school children across three schools in Edinburgh have taken part in a celebratory ‘booknic’ event organised by Fort Kinnaird in partnership with the National Literacy Trust.
The ‘booknic’ involved children enjoying a picnic and a book while also taking part in a range of fun reading-themed activities.
Schoolchildren from St Francis RC Primary School, Castleview Primary School and Niddrie Mill Primary School took part in the event, with each child also able to take a book of their choice home.
The ‘booknic’ was part of the Young Readers Programme, an award-winning initiative sponsored by Fort Kinnaird’s co-owner British Land and run in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, designed to encourage children to read outside of the classroom.
The initiative also gave the schools access to virtual interactive storytelling sessions and a literary quiz.
British Land and the National Literacy Trust celebrates its 10th year in partnership this year. Since the programme launched in Edinburgh, it has supported more than 2,000 schoolchildren and seen more than 6,100 books donated across the city.
Research from the National Literacy Trust shows that children who own their own books are six times more likely to read above the level expected for their age and three times more likely to enjoy reading.
Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said:“Supporting our community is so important to us and the Young Readers Programme plays a massive part in that. It’s a brilliant initiative which we look forward to every year and it’s great to see the children celebrating at our booknic event.
“Thanks also needs to go to the National Literacy Trust for their hard work on this event and over the years. They’ve helped us to ensure that the additional support and books go to those who need them most.”
Jonathan Douglas CBE, Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust, said: “Encouraging children to develop a love of reading from a young age can have a tangible impact on their literacy skills, mental wellbeing and futures.
“Yet hundreds of thousands of children across the UK are missing out on these benefits simply because they don’t have a book of their own to read at home.
“The Young Readers Programme, with support from British Land, tackles this and we’d like to thank them for all their support over the years.”
Amazon and charity partner, Magic Breakfast, enlist Countdown presenter Rachel Riley for a special class with Castleview Primary School in Edinburgh
Amazon extends partnership with Magic Breakfast to provide healthy breakfasts for children across the UK, including school holidays; since the start of the pandemic Amazon has delivered more than two million meals
Magic Breakfast is among the thousands of charities around the world receiving millions of items through product and monetary donations from Amazon this festive season
Before the holidays pupils at an Edinburgh school enjoyed a very special Christmas surprise when their usual teachers were joined by Countdown presenter Rachel Riley. The TV star hosted a special maths class for the pupils at Castleview Primary School as part of Amazon.co.uk’s “VIB – Very Important Breakfast – Clubs”.
Co-hosted by Magic Breakfast – a charity which provides healthy breakfasts and wrap-around support to tens of thousands of children in disadvantaged areas of the UK, the exclusive, celebrity surprise lesson was created to mark the two millionth meal delivered by Amazon this year alone and forms part of a Christmas programme of donations by Amazon.
The VIB Club at Castleview Primary School is part of a series that will also include celebrity guest lessons at schools in Doncaster, Brent, Scunthorpe and Poole. The clubs will then be made available on the Amazon.co.ukYouTube channel to bring some Christmas magic to all children for free this festive season.
“No child should be too hungry to learn, and we’re proud to help Magic Breakfast deliver meals to children at risk of hunger. When COVID-19 meant schools had to close, we made it our mission to reach as many children as possible at home, delivering food parcels directly to the doorstep of thousands of vulnerable children,” said Rachel Seaward-Simpson from the Amazon Customer Services Centre in Edinburgh.
“This Christmas, we have created Very Important Breakfast Clubs to bring joy to children, schools and families across the UK, underpinning our ongoing commitment to deliver fuel for learning across the rest of the school year, including the holidays.”
“It was so cool to have a celebrity teach us in our class and Rachel was really nice,” said a pupil at Castleview Primary School. “She made the maths lesson super fun and gave us tips of how to spot prime factors in the real world.”
Clare Langley, Head Teacher at Castleview Primary School, added: “Amazon and Magic Breakfast do important work in our community and the breakfast clubs have been an essential part of our pupils’ lives, particularly during COVID-19.
“The support our school has been given by both Amazon and Magic Breakfast has been amazing and our pupils had the lesson of their lives with Rachel Riley this week. On behalf of the staff, boys and girls at Castleview Primary School, I’d like to thank Amazon, Magic Breakfast and Rachel for an unforgettable experience.”
Rachel Riley commented: “I believe all children deserve a healthy and happy start to their day so I’m taking part in these Very Important Breakfast Clubs with Amazon and Magic Breakfast.
“I hope I can also show children that maths can be fun with my special lesson about discovering prime numbers and factors in the world around us.”
Stars Surprise Schools with VIB Clubs
To start the day with a lesson like no other, children at five Magic Breakfast partner schools in Doncaster, Poole, Brent, Scunthorpe and Edinburgh, will be surprised with virtual visits from:
● Joe Sugg, one of the UK’s biggest YouTubers and 2018’s Strictly Come Dancing runner-up, will be joined by his partner Dianne Buswell totreat the class to a cha-cha-rming dance lesson in the first VIB Club
● Professor Green, the multi-platinum rapper and songwriter and mental health advocate, will be getting down with the kids to come up with some new rhymes in his freestyle rap session.
● Dr Ranj Singh, the NHS doctor and BAFTA award-winning TV presenter, will be beamed in with a brain-busting lesson in biology.
● Rachel Riley, Countdown presenter and the nation’s favourite mathematician, will be playing the numbers game in her lesson, showing maths is ‘easy as Pi’.
● Lia Lewis, British freestyle footballer and TikTok superstar, will kick-start the school day by teaching freestyle flair. With shin bounces, sole stalls and rainbow flicks all on the lesson plan, it will be a PE class with the wow factor!
Schools and families around the country will be able to enjoy the VIB Club lessons on the Amazon.co.ukYouTube channel for free this Christmas.
Feeding Bodies and Minds
Magic Breakfast, an Amazon.co.uk charity partner since 2016, provides healthy school breakfasts to children in disadvantaged areas of the UK to combat food poverty as a barrier to education.
When schools shut last year due to COVID-19, Amazon worked with Magic Breakfast to deliver food parcels directly to the doorsteps of thousands of children around the UK.
Last week the company announced that it has delivered two million ‘magic breakfasts’ to vulnerable children across the UK this year, and will expand its partnership to continue to deliver healthy breakfasts to children at risk of hunger throughout the rest of the school year and school holidays.
Amazon is also helping Magic Breakfast digitise classrooms, providing thousands of children with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) equipment including coding robot kits and programming training.
Customers can support Magic Breakfast by donating here: www.magicbreakfast.com/donate/magic-breakfast; or by choosing Magic Breakfast as their charity on Amazon Smile (available on desktop and app), where customers can shop with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to a charity of their choice.
“We’ve worked with Amazon for over four years and in 2020 alone, together we’ve delivered two million breakfasts to vulnerable children which is just astonishing,” said Alex Cunningham, CEO of Magic Breakfast.
“After a challenging year, ending with the cancellation of many school celebrations, we hope that our VIB Clubs with Amazon will give children a reason to smile this Christmas, as well as raising funds and awareness for the most vulnerable in our communities. None of this would have been possible without our partnership with Amazon, so thank you to Amazon for their unwavering support and helping us end a difficult year with some Christmas magic.”
Amazon’s Festive Giving
Magic Breakfast is among the thousands of charities around the world receiving millions of items through product and monetary donations from Amazon this festive season. Across Europe, Amazon committed €21 million to support those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and in the UK,as well as increasing support for Magic Breakfast, Amazon.co.uk is donating to help organisations which are supporting communities directly impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
These donations include delivering STEM gifts to children supported by Barnardo’s; supporting DePaul with the essential work the charity does to provide emergency housing, item donation and support structures for families and young people; helping the British Red Cross with its logistical support for the NHS including delivering medicine and getting patients home from hospital, as well as providing thousands of care packages for the elderly and isolated. Amazon is also working with NHS Charities Together, to provide gifts for children who are in isolation or cannot leave hospital this Christmas and to support the elderly during the festive season, as well as supporting Home Start by sending Christmas donations to local branches of the charity across the UK.
Helping Customers Give Back While They Shop
AmazonSmile makes it easy for customers to support a good cause this Christmas at no extra cost to them. While shopping for gifts, Amazon customers can support Magic Breakfast or any one of more than 30,000 participating UK charities by visiting smile.amazon.co.uk or by activating AmazonSmile in the Amazon app on iPhones and Android phones under “Programs and Features” (after selecting a charity via smile.amazon.co.uk).
AmazonSmile has the same low prices and convenient shopping experience customers have come to expect from Amazon, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to a charity of your choice. AmazonSmile has donated more than £5.5 million to UK charities and more than £175 million globally to hundreds of thousands of charitable organisations.
Customers can support Magic Breakfast by donating here:
or by choosing Magic Breakfast as their charity on Amazon Smile (available on desktop and app), where customers can shop with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to a charity of their choice.
