Diana Award for fundraising student

A student from Bourne Community College has been included on a prestigious list of winners as part of the 2017 Diana Awards' Roll of Honour, to honour her fundraising efforts.
Bourne Community College Head Teacher: Yvonne Watkins, Teacher: Phil Harper, Award-winner: Megan McCulloch, Children on the Edge Fundraising Manager: Eloise ArmstrongBourne Community College Head Teacher: Yvonne Watkins, Teacher: Phil Harper, Award-winner: Megan McCulloch, Children on the Edge Fundraising Manager: Eloise Armstrong
Bourne Community College Head Teacher: Yvonne Watkins, Teacher: Phil Harper, Award-winner: Megan McCulloch, Children on the Edge Fundraising Manager: Eloise Armstrong

Megan McCulloch was jointly nominated by Chichester based charity Children on the Edge and Bourne Community College in Southbourne for leading the schools’ Charity Committee to raise £1,471 throughout 2015-2016.

The Diana Awards are set up to celebrate exceptional young people who embody Princess Diana’s qualities of kindness, compassion and service. To celebrate Princess Diana’s Birthday this 20th Anniversary year, the 2017 Roll of Honour, which includes 16 year old Megan McCulloch, was announced over the weekend.

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Megan said: “I cannot express how honoured I feel to have been given the opportunity to help those less fortunate than myself. It was a pleasure to lead a team of great students. I have been inspired and supported by an outstanding member of staff who guided me through my journey of fundraising and leadership - I am filled with joy at becoming a Diana Award winner!”

Eloise Armstrong, fundraising manager at Children on the Edge, said: “Megan has been a fantastic ambassador for Children on the Edge within Bourne Community College. We have been impressed by her pro-active leadership; innovative fundraising ideas and her communication with our fundraising staff. As a small charity, the impact of Megan’s fundraising has been significant and timely, enabling us to provide ‘on the edge’ safe spaces and education for Syrian refugee children in Lebanon and Rohingya refugee children fleeing Burma and living in Bangladesh.”

Megan managed all aspects of the charity partnership; arranging visits and presentations from the Children on the Edge staff team, coordinating the fundraising events, and delivering assemblies to share the impact of the total money raised. The money raised by Megan and the school can help provide education in an informal tented school in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon for eight Syrian refugee children for a whole year.

Children on the Edge rely completely on voluntary donations and receives no institutional or government funding for their programme in Lebanon, which makes this support all the more vital for the charity during the worsening refugee crisis in Syria.

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Phil Harper, Student voice coordinator, said: “I have loved seeing Megan grow in her leadership skills. She knew how to lead staff and students with enthusiasm and purpose. I now feel genuine pride at Megan’s achievements and the young person she has become - courageous, resilient and compassionate.”

Yvonne Watkins, head teacher, said: “All of us at Bourne Community College are delighted with the Diana Award for Megan. She has worked tirelessly as Chair of our Charity Group. She is an exceptional young student, embodying all the qualities of kindness, compassion and service that are reflected in the Diana Award. She has worked selflessly, always aiming to inspire and motivate other students and staff to raise awareness and money for those less fortunate than themselves. She truly deserves this wonderful Diana Award.”

Megan will collect her Award at a special Ceremony later this year.

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