By Karen Thomson (Torbay and Devon Civic Award Founder)
Every year the number of children achieving the Torbay Civic Award grows and this year was no exception! On Wednesday 5th July nearly 300 Year 6 children proudly received their certificate from Councillor Anne Brooks:the Chair of Torbay Council and the Chairman of Devon County Council: Councillor Ray Radford.
This year there were so many schools taking part that the Presentation Night was held in two sessions. Schools taking part were:
FIRST PRESENTATION
- Abbey School
- Collaton St Mary Primary School
- Homelands Primary School
- Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Primary School
- Priory Catholic Primary School
- Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School
- Shiphay Learning Academy
- Torre C of E Primary School
SECOND PRESENTATION
- Bovey Tracey Primary School
- Cockington Primary School
- Exminster Community Primary School
- Hayes School
- St Josephs Primary School, Newton Abbot
- St Marys Buckfast Catholic Primary School
- St Marychurch C of E Primary School
This year we were joined by four schools from Devon and as a result the award has changed its name! We are now the Torbay and Devon Civic Award!
To achieve the award pupils had to prove their participation in five main areas. These are:
Active Citizenship in their school community Children took roles as Peer Mediators, Reading Buddies. School Councillors and other positions of trust and responsibility in school.
Active Citizenship in their home communities Pupils took part in beach cleans, bulb planting, helping at Brownies /Cubs/sports clubs and looking after people in the community. Children also supported local charities including Rowcroft and the Blue Cross..
Hobbies – Children took up new hobbies and stuck at others. Hobbies ranged from ballet to baking!
Residential experience and adventure training – All the children were brave enough to sleep away from home and took part in outdoor challenges.
Children also adopted a cause or charity which they feltl strongly about. Again, the range was enormous and children raised thousands of pounds for their chosen charities and spread awareness in creative and interesting ways.
Over the next few months, this column will focus on each of the schools who took part and will give more details about the incredible work completed by these Torbay and Devon Civic Award graduates. They join nearly 3,000 young people who have achieved the award over the last twelve years.
If any schools are interested in joining us next year please get in touch with Karen Thomson at St Marychurch Primary School or via this website.
Reasons to adopt the Torbay Civic Award
- It brings about community cohesion through linking school and community
- It empowers children to become global citizens – developing their awareness of the works of charities
- It develops empathy and the desire to strive for a fairer future. It encourages them to be compassionate and to take responsibility for positive change
- It helps children to achieve economic well being by developing skills for the workplace and allowing children to manage money
- It encourages children to be safe – action planning with risk assessments is an important part of the award
- It develops self esteem, confidence and assurance
- It develops a team working ethos and promotes related skills of collaboration and independence
- It supports children in leading purposeful and full lives and is great preparation for both secondary school and the workplace.
- The scheme develops Pupil Voice and Citizenship
- It encourages acquisition of important values (respect contribution compassion etc) and allows children to see them in practice
- It is about what we all believe in: moral purpose and integrity – developing and nurturing the whole child for life and placing education in a broader and more worthy context.
Photos on this page is credited to JoJo Helene whose daughter completed this years Torbay and Deon Civic Award. JoJo added the following “What a wonderful event. Many thanks to Karen Thomson and your self for promoting this and attending tonight. Community spirit is very much in my heart so this is just wonderful.”
