St Leonards Junior School Announces Charity Partnerships

Monday, 10 November

The St Leonards Junior School has announced its chosen Island Charities for the 2025–26 school year. Each Island group will support a local organisation, helping pupils learn about community engagement and the impact of charitable work.

This year’s charities are:
Harris – Families First
Lewis – SCAA
Mull – The Hamish Foundation
Skye – Friends of Craigtoun

On Monday, 10 November, representatives from each charity visited the school to speak to pupils about their work and how the Junior School can support them throughout the year.

Families First shared how they support children, young people and families in St Andrews who need emotional help. Their team of befrienders work with children from a wide range of backgrounds, offering practical and emotional support during difficult times.

SCAA also spoke about their vital role. Operating two helicopters from Perth and Aberdeen with six crew members, the charity provides essential air ambulance services across Scotland. They explained that it costs £10 million a year to keep the service running and expressed their appreciation for the pupils’ support.

Friends of Craigtoun were delighted to be selected. Many St Leonards families use the park, and the charity has worked hard to improve and maintain it over many years. They have invited pupils to share ideas for future developments, which the children are already excited to discuss.

The Hamish Foundation rounded off the visit. Hamish spoke about the charity’s work in the community, including accessible dune walkways and specialist beach wheelchairs. Many of the pupils remembered these from the sandcastle competition day. The Hamish Foundation’s next major project is the improvement of the Castle Sands bathing pool, and the Junior School’s fundraising will help support this work.

This year’s Island Charities promise opportunities for pupils to learn, contribute and connect with causes close to home.