The Torbay and Devon Civic Award recently celebrated its 21st year with certificates presented to nearly 500 11-year-olds from 40 schools in Devon. Karen Thomson, Award Founder and Coordinator, spoke about Award Graduates who very much see the award as a foundation to their future, and certainly not an end in itself. One of these students is 11-year-old Gracie Martin from Cheriton Bishop Community Primary School. She is one of the many pupils who has fully thrown herself into making an impact in her community and her endeavours are truly worthy of celebration!
Gracie’s impact has been wide-ranging. She involved the whole school community in learning about and taking action for her chosen charity: the RSPCA, inspired by both her love of animals and her Nan’s rescue dogs. She visited the local RSPCA centre to learn about the charity and involved the whole school in her ‘Dress Like an Animal Day’, raising£145 through this and an after-school stall she managed selling home-made bath bombs, bracelets and sweets to help the charity she loves.
A member of her school Eco Council, Gracie also involved her peers in the introduction of her ‘Bug Hotel’ which she made as part of her Pledge to the Planet. ‘I wanted to take care of the creatures in the environment and give them a home where they could feel safe,’ she explained. Her desire to help creatures was extended to younger children at her primary school and, as a Buddy Reader and a Play and Sports Leader, her impact was felt further.
In addition to involving her school community, Gracie also involved her local community of Tedburn St Mary in a community litter pick – Tedburn Tidy –and walked dogs and took bins out for older local inhabitants. She also formed a strong bond with members of a local residential home, writing to them to ask if she could become a visitor and then taking her role very seriously; attending weekly and playing games with the residents who appreciated her time with them. Together with the residents at the home, Gracie created a scrapbook of memories, involving them in her ‘community butterfly’ design. Another action was a supportive friendship she formed with Shirley, an elderly lady in her village. Gracie made tea, helped her with some daily tasks and chatted with her. This was all described in a diary of her time and experiences with Shirley, who sadly passed away recently.
All her work towards the Torbay and Devon Civic Award was carefully recorded in her portfolio with records signed and dated.
‘Taking part in the award not only gave me so many things to do but also let me help others and it made a lot of people happy,’ remarked Gracie who is already planning activities for the Autumn.
Congratulations are extended to Gracie and to all the other pupils who took part in the Torbay and Devon Civic Award during the 2024-5 season. Your impact is huge!
Karen Thomson
(Founder and Coordinator of the Torbay and Devon Civic Award)
