Community-minded teenagers help raise funds for charities

Two groups of Sleaford teenagers have been enrolled on a four-week summer scheme with the National Citizens Service which has seen them spending time away learning about university life in Nottingham, how to plan for their future careers and improve their employability skills with the help of local businesses.

Selling cakes for good causes. one of the NCS groups, based in the Children and Young People's Centre in Money's Yard. From left - mento James McKay, Emily Bond, Jasmine Humphry, MOlly Blunt, Daniel King and Olivia Calver-Bridge. EMN-160719-115748001

They also spent a week staying at PGL outdoor adventure centre in Caythorpe and are currently planning fundraising activities for charities they chose themselves as part of their community social action project.

Molly Blunt from one of the groups of 16 and 17 year olds explained they have chosen the Ally Cadence Trust for Spinal Muscular Atrophy as many of the young people are friends with the son of one of the people that runs the Billinghay-based charity, and they have also chosen the Make A Wish Foundation as a deserving cause.

Last Thursday the teenagers were bag packing in the Sleaford Tesco store for donations and running a bake sale outside the Children and Young People’s Centre in Money’s Yard.

The other group have demonstrated their contribution to the community by supporting Cancer Research UK.

Group mentor Emily Webb said: “It is a worthy cause that is close to most people’s hearts as it affects so many.”

On Monday they ran a cake stall on Sleaford market and were bag packing for shoppers’ donations in Tesco and Iceland on Tuesday.

Then today (Wednesday) they will embark on their own 10-hour ‘triathlon’ for sponsorship cash along from 11am until 6.30pm.

This will begin with a 6km walk in the morning, followed by a 15km swim at Sleaford leisure centre where they will also be hosting a bake sale, rounding off with a 32km static bike ride in the centre’s foyer.