hat a breath of fresh air! We’re all rather tired of hearing about the negative aspects of youth conduct. ‘Anti-social behaviour’, ‘vandalism’, ‘disaffection’, ‘offensive’ – all words and phrases so commonly used with reference to young people. While no-one can deny that problems exist, it is heartening to hear a tale of positive youth activity ...
On Thursday, 20 January, youngsters from Gamlingay and District Skatepark Association gave their time, boundless energy and infectious enthusiasm to help relieve the suffering of tsunami victims in Sri Lanka. The 8 teenagers, with 3 adult supervisors, spent an evening at Letchworth’s Buddhist Dhamma Nikethanaya Centre where they worked tirelessly and resolutely to sort and pack donated clothing to be sent to the stricken island.
The Centre’s Reverend Akurala Samitha spoke to the youngsters, praising their efforts, which he said would be greatly appreciated by those people currently suffering immense hardship in the wake of the Boxing Day disaster. Some of these people, he told them, were children the same age as themselves who had been left with nothing since the tidal wave struck. Many had suffered serious injury. Some had even been orphaned. The Reverend Samitha can be contacted on 01462 641688.
The Reverend Samitha left a deep impression on the Gamlingay youngsters, all of whom said they were glad to help and would all like to return to the Letchworth Centre to give further assistance.
Ken Lynch, Project Adviser to Gamlingay and District Skatepark Association commented, “Thanks to Mid Beds District Council’s taxi token scheme, it was possible to transport the kids to the Buddhist Centre at Letchworth, where they were able to make their tremendous contribution”.
A group of youngsters from Gamlingay’s Skatepark Association has recently helped with the Biggleswade Chronicle’s Families in Need Christmas Hamper Appeal, when they spent a morning in Sandy packing the hampers ready for distribution to needy families in the Biggleswade area.
Members of the Association are also working hard to raise funds for their own skatepark in Gamlingay.
For more information, please contact Ken Lynch on 01767 681739, or
Monday March 14th, I was called into the office to speak to an unexpected visitor. The gentleman had come to express his thanks for the help and kindness that Heidi Manning and Matthew Brown (pupils at the First School) and Chloe Manning (a former pupil), had shown towards an elderly relative of his, several weeks before.
The children had been walking their dog in Cinques Road when they heard a loud crash. They went to investigate and found an elderly lady injured inside her garage. The children realised the severity of the situation and immediately went for help. An ambulance was called and the lady was taken to hospital.
To show her appreciation, the lady sent each of the children a card and an Easter egg, which I presented during school assembly.
As Head, it is always a pleasure to hear when our pupils have used their initiative to help someone in the community. I am extremely proud of them. Well done children.
