Nursery pupils donate to Scottish Ambulance Service
PUPILS at three Dundee nurseries have generously donated crayons and colour pencils to the Scottish Ambulance Service to help crews calm children in distress during emergencies.
Youngsters from Little People Nursery, Rainbow Bright Childcare and Butterflies Nursery School donated the goods after recently visiting the city’s station.
The kids and their families donated a number of items, which will be handed out with activity books designed and donated by students from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (DJCAD). The books and pencils will be given out alongside comfort teddies as part of a partnership with Children 1st, Scotland’s national children’s charity.
Comfort teddies are hand-knitted by communities across Scotland and carried by emergency services to be given to children in distress. The teddies help provide some immediate comfort for children, and also link families to ongoing support through Children 1st’s Parentline service. In Tayside, children are also given the teddy-themed activity books designed by local students.
Carla Donnachie, Area Service Manager for Tayside, said: “Our dedicated crews in Tayside are often tasked with dealing with children during emergency calls and are highly skilled at comforting kids.
“A comfort teddy or activity book could be invaluable to a child during an emergency call – whether it is for themselves or a family member – and is aimed at providing comfort at what is often a traumatic experience.
“The kids were invited along as we wanted to say a big thank you to them and their parents after they donated crayons and colour pencils, which will be given out with activity books designed and donated by the students at DJCAD.”
Anita Roweth, Dundee Service Manager, Children 1st, Scotland’s national children’s charity said: “It’s been great to see the children having fun and learning about comfort teddies. The community in Dundee have been so supportive and it means that, not only can children receive teddies and books to comfort them and ease their distress, but also more parents can be put in touch with Parentline.
“All comfort teddies wear a little t-shirt with Parentline contact details, to remind families that once the emergency services finish their work they can get in touch with us for ongoing support. Parentline is a lifeline for all families, offering a kind and skilled listening ear for parents, carers and relatives across Scotland – free over the phone on 08000 28 22 or online at www.children1st.org.uk/parentline”