Pupils of Laxey and Dhoon primary schools have been praised for their charity efforts and selflessness over lockdown.

George Wade, aged five, and Charlie Bates, seven, have donated money to the Foodbank and Isle of Play through their own initiative.

Dhoon pupil Charlie dug-up potatoes for people to help themselves to free of charge and set up a stall at Baldromma Beg Farm, near Ballajora Hill in Maughold. He raised £210.19 for Isle of Play, a charity set up in 2018 with the aim of promoting children’s right to play.

George of Laxey School donated his birthday money to Foodbank, as he said he ’wanted to help those who need it.’

There have also been pupils from Laxey and Dhoon schools who have been making masks for frontline workers in schools, such as Emma Cross, who made masks for teachers within the hub schools across the island.

Headteacher of both schools, Max Kelly said: ’I think it shows the sense of community spirit which exists in our schools.

’Charlie dug up his potatoes in his own free time between home learning and George has done such a lovely thing donating all of his birthday money to the Foodbank, to help those who find this particular time challenging, but beyond that, the challenges that exist within society.

’We do have links with the Foodbank across the school federation - we have harvest events and ask school children to bring-in boxes of food from time to time.

’We’ve asked parents and pupils to let us know how pupils are getting on with home learning, but we are keen to know what’s going on outside of that during life in lockdown.’

Mr Kelly said that it was encouraging to see that pupils, not only in his own school but across the island, are not being prompted to do charitable and thoughtful things, they are doing it from their own selflessness.

He continued: ’I’m very proud of our pupils.

’But I think pupils across the island are doing so many things, which reflects very well on young people and education - by that I mean both schools and parents working in partnership together - raising an island of children who have a social conscience, who have a sense of social justice and who want to do something for their community.

’I’ve really enjoyed seeing all the different stories about young people rising to the challenge of coping with the times that we live in and helping those less fortunate than ourselves.

’I think this is a time that shows that young people deserve some recognition for being positive.’