Lancashire student wins Caritas award for service to the community

Source: Diocese of Salford

A Lancashire primary school student has received special recognition after going above and beyond to live out Christ's call to love and serve one another.

Harvey, from St Charles RC Primary School in Rishton, has been presented with the Caritas Catholic Social Teaching Award in recognition of his efforts to put love into action.

During the school holidays, Harvey attended Park View Resource Centre to offer support to individuals accessing a coffee morning at the food bank.

The centre, based in Clayton-le-Moors, supports adults with a broad range of learning difficulties and mental health issues, and was delighted to welcome Harvey as a volunteer in his spare time.

John Grogan, manager of Park View Resource Centre, emailed St Charles Primary to say: "On behalf of the staff team, we wanted to let you know what an absolutely charming young person Harvey is, and what a fantastic representation he is to your school. He has been polite, considerate, helpful and kind to some of the most vulnerable individuals within our local communities."

Patrick Kennedy, headteacher at St Charles RC Primary School, was delighted to hear of Harvey's efforts and the impact his kindness has made on the local community.

He said: "It was heartwarming to receive an email of this nature about a pupil at our school. Harvey is an amazing young man and deserved of this praise and the award. We try incredibly hard to instil our school values into all of our pupils and when we receive news like this, it can't help but put a smile on your face."

Harvey was presented with the Caritas Catholic Social Teaching Award in recognition of his outstanding achievement during a school assembly, which his parents also attended.

His mother, Julie, said: "I'm beyond proud of Harvey. As a family, we are extremely proud of him and he fully deserves the recognition for what he has done."

The Caritas Catholic Social Teaching Award is an award to recognise pupils, families, and groups who have made an outstanding contribution to upholding the seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching and putting love into action.

Harvey's certificate read: "You have demonstrated Catholic Social Teachings by helping those who are vulnerable, showing solidarity for the common good and demonstrating the dignity of work. You should be incredibly proud of your actions and the impact you have made."