Five-figure boost for new school minibus
PUPILS at Brechin High School will be travelling in style next year after the parent council received a grant of £10,000 to help pay for a new minibus.
The Awards for All grant rounds off nearly a year of fund-raising by the parent council, who have themselves collected around 9,000 through various events, including sponsored walks, race nights, coffee mornings and a bucket collection at Glebe Park.
It is hoped that a new 16 seater minibus can be ordered in the coming weeks, making it available for the new term after the summer holidays.
The chair of the parent council, Julie August, said: "The grant is absolutely fabulous news. If we didn't get it that would have meant another year of fundraising at least!
"We're now very close to being able to order the minibus. Having one at the school makes a big difference to the pupils as it means you know yourself when it is available."
Currently, when a school that doesn't have its own minibus requires one, it has to book and collect one from Arbroath. However, with a number of schools relying on the same resource, that can mean having to book the bus weeks, if not months, ahead.
Julie said that can present a problem if, for example, one of the school's sports teams makes the final of a tournament and needs transport at short notice.
However, Brechin High School has not encountered such a problem for some time after receiving significant support from local businessman, Kevin Mackie, of Mackie Motors and the Northern Hotel.
Julie said: "Kevin has been giving us a loan of his minibus for nothing as long as it's available. That's been brilliant for us. We're still very much hoping for that relationship to continue."
Head teacher at Brechin High, Steve Dempsey, said: "We've had very good support from the community who have backed the range of fund raising events over the past year, as well as coming forward with individual donations.
"We've also had very good support from Kevin Mackie, who has given us access to his own minibus without charge over the last year.
"There are so many different things going on that require transport, such as sporting events, pupils doing their Duke of Edinburgh award, and curriculum based activities.
"The price of the new minibus is about 19,000 and it's essential that the school has access to one. Thankfully, we now have the money to place an order."
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Weather for Brechin
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 10 C to 14 C
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Wind direction: East
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