Primary school pupils celebrate quarter century charity milestone

Lenzie Moss Primary in East Dunbartonshire recently handed over a donation of £418.35 which took their grand total to over £16,500 in a quarter of a century.

Children at the school have been popping their pocket money into collection boxes since 1990.

Jacqui MacDonald, chief education officer at East Dunbartonshire Council, said: “Pupils and teachers at Lenzie Moss Primary School should be extremely proud of this fantastic achievement.

“Over the last 25 years they have raised a significant sum of money for Barnardo’s, which will have helped to improve the lives of many children supported by the charity.

“It is quite astonishing how quickly small change can grow into thousands of pounds.

“Well done to everyone who has contributed since the collections began in 1990.”

The latest donation was presented to the charity on Thursday, June 25, by pupils from the school and school volunteer Mrs Mary Calder, who counts the money collected in the boxes every year.

The fundraising boxes have now been returned to pupils at Lenzie Moss and Barnardo’s are hoping that maybe they will find some spare coins they can pop in their boxes at the end of the summer holidays.

Hayley Best, community fundraiser volunteer manager, who organises the collections, said: “It’s amazing how much money those little collection boxes can hold.

“The children are very generous, and understand their donations go towards helping children who are less fortunate than themselves.”

Barnardo’s Scotland currently has 81 shops and works with more than 26,500 children and young people in over 122 specialised community-based services across the country.

Their work includes fostering and adoption services and support and helping children break free from sexual exploitation.

They also offer support to young carers and young people who are trying to find employment.

Lifting children out of poverty in Scotland is also one of their main aims at the charity.

For more information about how to install fundraising boxes please contact Hayley Best on 07860 949 353 or email hayley.best@
barnardos.org.uk