BY Martin Dunlop | May 24 2013 | 
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Caritas Award to open its doors to primary pupils beginning next term
Publication Date: 2013-05-24
The highly successful Pope Benedict XVI Caritas Award is being extended to include pupils from Scotland’s Catholic primary schools.
From the beginning of the next school year, 2013/14, it is planned that selected primary six classes will work on a two-year pilot programme, which will result in them being able to apply for the Caritas Award at the end of their year in primary seven.
Barbara Coupar, religious education advisor, who works for the Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES), commented that a lot of young children of primary school age are already ‘actively involved’ in works of Faith in their schools, parishes and local communities.
“The junior award will be based on similar elements to the senior Caritas Award,” Mrs Coupar said. “Pupils will focus on Faith through scripture, action and prayer and links between the home, school and parish will be encouraged.”
The Catholic Church in Scotland inaugurated the Caritas Award in 2011, as a lasting legacy of Pope Benedict’s visit to the country the previous year.
The award enables young people in their final year of secondary school education to assist in their parishes, schools and local communities to encourage and promote their ongoing Faith journey. This year 850 pupils are in line to receive the award at a special ceremony at Glasgow’s Clyde Auditorium next Sunday.
During the current school year, a number of Catholic primary schools in Scotland have been working with the Catholic Education Commission to develop the implementation of the Junior Caritas Award.
This has included St Joseph’s Primary in Stepps and St Luke’s and St Matthew’s Primary in Dundee.
Alison Curran, acting headteacher of St Luke’s and St Matthew’s, spoke of the benefit this has had on the school’s primary seven pupils.
“The Caritas Award has given focus to our pupils about their own beliefs and how they fit in to everyday life,” Mrs Curran said. “It has also allowed them to reflect on their own strengths, character and gifts and where they see themselves within their home and the wider community.
“We hope to continue with this work next year building on stronger partnerships with our parish and wider community and supporting our pupils so ‘they can develop and use their gifts in a way that witnesses to God’s love in their communities.’”
— This story ran in full in the May 24 print edition of the SCO
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