A YOUNG girl who spends her spare time getting her hands dirty on an allotment at her former primary school has been nominated for a Young Champions award.
Emily Hanson, 12, left Goldthorpe Primary school, based on Doncaster Road, two years ago to begin secondary school at Dearne ALC.
Goldthorpe Primary is an eco school, which encourages pupils to take responsibility for the environmental management of the school and runs an after school club where pupils can engage in farming and take care of the school allotment.
While a pupil at the school, Emily was an active member of the school’s eco-club and as also an eco councillor. When she left, she realised she missed it and asked outdoor education teacher Chris Wharton-Lovett if she could come back and help out with the after school club.
Her dedication and willingness to help has been noticed and her actions have earned her a Young Champions nomination under the Young Volunteer category.
Chris said: “Emily asked me if she could come back and help out with the eco-club because she missed working on the farm, and I was delighted. Before she came I could only run one after school session a week but her help has meant we now run two after school sessions a week and it is the most popular extra curricular activity at the school.
“Emily is reliable and trustworthy - without her I wouldn’t be able to do half as much as I am able to do. The children love her and they love the fact that she used to be a pupil because they can relate to her and she understands what is expected of them.
“Although the club only runs on Monday and Thursday, Emily is at the school every day helping wherever she can whether it’s with the football club, maintaining the farm or helping with odd jobs that need doing.
“Her actions have encouraged a few more former pupils to return and support the school with extracurricular activities and Sarah Fields, the headteaher, is supportive of this and appreciates Emily’s commitment to the school. She deserves this nomination and when Emily is old enough to get a job, there is definitely one for her here.”
Emily’s mum, Amy Howitt, of Market Square, Goldthorpe, said: “I nominated Emily because I’m really proud of her. I love the fact that she is spending her spare time doing something useful and she is so dedicated.
“When she initially went back last year she only helped a couple nights a week but now she is there every day after school apart from Tuesday when she has football. She will come home, get changed and I won’t see her again until 7.30pm and she adores it.”
