These primary school pupils received a big high-five for learning more about healthy eating and boosting their confidence.
The West Primary P7 pupils received their Hi5 Awards from Youth Scotland after taking part in an eight-week personal and social development programme called Evolve.
Run by Renfrewshire Council’s youth services team, the programme encourages pupils to raise their voice on what’s important to them and make changes in their own communities.
Many said learning how to eat healthily was most important to them and they learned how to make their own healthy wraps, fruit kebabs and smoothies.
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The youngsters also took part in arts and crafts, drama and mindfulness.
Headteacher Lynne McGinn said: “You can really see the difference in pupils working together in small groups. It has increased their confidence and self-esteem.
“They feel a sense of achievement.”
The young people who took part said the experience made them feel more confident about going on school trips with peers and that they made new friends too.
One said: “I am more confident, and I even felt less scared about going to our residential trip because I now knew that I could try new things.”
The Evolve project is part of a three-year national pilot funded by CashBack for Communities and is a programme of youth work activities delivered by Renfrewshire Council’s youth services team for young people aged 11 to 24 years old.
The programme involves personal and social development and social action, underpinned by mental health and wellbeing activities.
Evolve started in 2020 and will continue until 2023.
Susan Stewart who works in the council’s youth services team said: “The pupils worked in small groups on the project.
“More than 80 young people took part in the programme over the last year, including pupils from West Primary and Castlehead High schools.”
The Hi5 Award has been credit rated and levelled by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).
To gain a Hi5 Award, young people choose a challenge, complete a minimum of five hours of activity, think about and comment on their achievements and gather evidence of their participation.
The West Primary received a certificate showing their name, challenge and special achievements.
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