Thoughtful pupils from Cragside C of E Primary School have today held a grand opening for the community garden they have created as part of their Archbishop of York Young Leaders Award. In order to complete the community garden the children wrote letters to local garden centres for donations and today invited parents and carers to share in the excellent work they have been doing. The Young Leaders Award encourages children to ‘be the change they want to see’ and as well as creating the garden the children have also taken part in litter picking, a poster campaign enforcing the importance of not littering, held a fundraising event to raise money for charity , visited several elderly care homes to perform a concert and provide cakes which they had baked in school. The elderly residents also attended the grand opening of the garden this afternoon as the children want it to be available for all the local community to use and enjoy.

Miss Mayhew, Year 5 teacher at Cragside Primary School said

“The award was very enjoyable to take part in and gave children a chance to be creative in their work within the community. The children have been able to show excellent leadership skills in the organisation of different community events and have really developed a mature and compassionate attitude in understanding why it is important to help others.”

Kate Denney, Primary Schools Lead at The Archbishop of York Youth Trust said

“Our Young Leaders always astound me with their passion and creativity in the way they look to be the change they want to see. What a wonderful example of leadership, teamwork and working for their community.”

To date the Youth Trust have enrolled over 350 Primary and Secondary schools to the Young Leaders Awards, empowering some 36,670 young people to put leadership into action and make a difference in other people's lives through acts of service and community volunteering.