Cumnock: Robert Burns Academy Christmas charity donations

For the third year in a row, the school is supporting the Night Before Christmas Campaign (NBCC), which was set up back in 2015 to help families struggling across Ayrshire at this time of year.

With support from family, friends and staff at the school, donations are set to reach the highest ever collected by the Cumnock campus.

They are collecting new or unused gifts suitable for any age range, including toys, board games, hats and scarfs, chocolates and sweets, clothes and PJs, books and stationery, and health and beauty gift sets.

Donations are being collected for this year's efforts up until Friday, December 6.

Pupils have been working to collect donations. (Image: NQ staff) RBA Biology teacher, Ms McCulloch is heading up the collections with the pupils, and has said that the work is vital for people across Ayrshire.

Ms McCulloch told the Chronicle: “This is our third year supporting this charity’s cause. It started with Mrs Macara because she knew about the great work the charity did, and since then, we’ve kept it up and are hoping for our best year this year.

“Last year it was difficult with donations because a lot of people are struggling, so this year we’ve really been trying to push and get as many things in as we can and try and help as many people as we can.

“Unfortunately with the poverty levels across Ayrshire, then these kind of things are still necessary.

“We’ve seen a big difference in the number of donations we’ve had so far this year, which is obviously amazing.

“The fact we’ve still got a wee while to go to collect things is amazing for us and we’re excited to see how much we get."

Donations can be handed into the Robert Burns Academy reception. (Image: East Ayrshire Council) Donations can be sent to the school's reception, where Ms McCulloch or one of the pupils will pick it up and add it to the collections.

Members from the NBCC will then pick them up from the school, before working to get the gifts to vulnerable people across Ayrshire.

Ms McCulloch added: “By spreading the word and getting the message out there as much as we can will help us to collect these things and help vulnerable people across Ayrshire.

“Donations have to be handed in to us be Friday, December 6 and the charity is coming into collect them on Monday, December 9.

“We’re really looking for a variety of things to be donated, including games, clothes, toys, sweets and all sorts. The charity supports from babies right through to vulnerable adults, so we need a range of things. As long as they’re new or unused then they can be donated.

“The captains of the school and houses have been brilliant in trying to spread the word, because they know how much of a difference this will make to people in the area.

“We’re so grateful for the support, and hopefully we can get a few more donations over the next wee while, and get as much as possible.”