Caring pupils at Clachan Primary School have been hard at work over the last few months, preparing 48 Christmas cakes to give to retired residents in the local community.
The annual school tradition dates back more than two decades and sees the children bake, package and hand-deliver the cakes to elderly people in the village.
Head Teacher Lucy Blake said: “The project has a positive influence on the whole village community and in the school. The children learn skills for life and work, as well also learning about a caring and nurturing ethos. This year we focussed on numeracy throughout the project, allowing the pupils to apply their numeracy skills in context.
“All the cakes are individually wrapped and the children make individual, handwritten name tags so that they think about the person they’re giving the cake to as they write. With only six pupils in the school they all do a lot work to make the project possible.
“It’s a wonderful way of linking the children to older members in the community too, while keeping traditions alive. The recipients really appreciate it and look forward to receiving their cake. For some older members of the community, buying a Christmas cake for one would be expensive and for others it is a link to the school where they and their family went as children.
“The fact that each cake is named individually adds to the sense of caring for each person. Christmas can be a lonely time too and we hope that by letting everyone know they are thought of, it is a way to show that we care. I’d like to thank Catriona Wilkieson and Joanna Grey for all their hard work with it.”
Argyll and Bute Council’s Policy Lead for Education, Councillor Yvonne McNeilly said: “What an amazing, heart-warming project and what wonderful, caring children. It is clear that Clachan Primary School sits at the heart of the local community and thoughtful, compassionate initiatives like this are what help to strengthen the pupils’ links with people in the village
“It helps to promote a wider sense of community engagement and provides the children with a sense of compassion and kindness. Well done to everyone involved.”