Social action awards honours schoolchildren's charity work

Civil society minister Nick Hurd presented children from seven schools with Giving Nation Social Action Awards, as well as a £500 charity prize fund, during a special event at the Treasury.

Among the award winners were pupils from Stroud High School who raised awareness for The Timmy Mason Trust, a children’s cancer charity.

They raised more than £1,000 for the charity by participating in a number of fundraising activities, including swimming the length of the English Channel in a local pool, which were documented in a video diary.

Five students from the school will now have the opportunity to travel to South Africa, where they will witness the work of the Wildnerness Foundation.

Stroud High School teacher Katy Ivey is proud of the pupils’ achievement.

She said: “It is wonderful that our students have been recognised for their long-term commitment and exceptional dedication to charity work.”

Giving Nation is part of the Citizenship Foundation, an education and participation charity that engages young people in democratic society.

The initiative, funded by the Cabinet Office with Santander and the Social Action Fund, aims to teach young people more about the charity and voluntary sector, while challenging them to give up their time to support a cause they feel passionately about.

Explaining the programme, Hurd said of Giving Nation: “The work they do connecting young people with the opportunity to make a difference helps them develop professional and personal skills, as well as community ties.

“I am pleased to continue supporting Giving Nation and would like to congratulate all the teachers and students who took part this year.”