Staff members from Langholm Academy and Canonbie School Cluster in Dumfriesshire have successfully raised over £2500 for the NSPCC through their participation in the Great North Run. The team, consisting of Davidsean Murray, Amy Johnstone, Lauren McLean, Karen Vidler, and Kerrie Waitt, completed the race earlier this month, resulting in a generous donation of £2,535 to the NSPCC. The funds raised by the staff will support the NSPCC’s vital work in reaching more schools in Scotland with their Speak Out, Stay Safe (SOSS) programme.
The NSPCC’s SOSS programme is a safeguarding initiative aimed at children aged 5-11 years old, available in all primary schools in Scotland and the UK. Using the mascot Buddy, the programme educates children about different forms of abuse, how to identify signs of abuse, that abuse is never their fault, and that they have the right to be safe. In the academic year 2023/24, the SOSS programme reached 62,648 children in 340 schools across Scotland thanks to the dedication of volunteers from the NSPCC’s Schools Service team.
The NSPCC is actively seeking new volunteers to expand the reach of their programme to even more schools, particularly in areas like Stranraer, the Borders, Renfrewshire, Ayrshire, Fife, Stirling, Perth & Kinross, Aberdeen, and various other regions in Scotland. The decision by the Langholm and Canonbie staff to fundraise for the NSPCC was inspired by their positive experience with the SOSS sessions conducted in their schools.
The Langholm and Canonbie Cluster was established in 2013, bringing together Langholm Academy, Langholm Primary School, and Canonbie Primary School to enhance the educational outcomes for children in the Langholm and Canonbie communities. The headteacher of these schools, Lauren McLean, expressed their joy in participating in the Great North Run for the NSPCC, highlighting the encouragement received from spectators during the event.
Tony Brown, schools coordinator at NSPCC Scotland, expressed gratitude to the staff for their fundraising efforts and highlighted the significance of their donation in supporting the charity’s mission to educate children on their rights and safety. Brown emphasised the critical role of volunteers in delivering the SOSS programme and encouraged individuals interested in volunteering to explore opportunities with the Schools Service team.
To learn more about volunteering opportunities with the NSPCC’s Schools Service team and contribute to safeguarding children across Scotland, interested individuals can visit https://join-us.nspcc.org.uk/volunteers/volunteers/schools/. The dedication and commitment of the Langholm and Canonbie staff exemplify the collective effort needed to ensure the safety and well-being of children in schools throughout the country.