Van-tastic gesture made kids’ trip possible

Mar 25 2009 by Robert Mitchell, Wishaw Press

PUPILS from Wishaw’s Castlehill Primary School in Gowkthrapple are just back from a residential trip to Oban – thanks to Motherwell’s Arnold Clark giving the school the use of a van free of charge.

P7 pupils from the school’s language and communication unit had a terrific time at the Kilbowie Outdoor Centre.

Deputy head Lorna Ferguson said: “Kilbowie is North Lanarkshire’s Residential Outdoor Centre in Oban and, ideally, every P7 pupil in the authority should have the opportunity to stay there and experience the variety of outdoor activities on offer.

“Castlehill Primary’s language and communication unit had its first taste of Kilbowie when four P7 pupils and three teachers went up to stay for three days.

“This would not have been possible without the help of Arnold Clark, of Shields Road in Motherwell, who provided a minibus for the trip free of charge.

“While the pupils could have travelled up along with another school, it would have meant coming home by public transport.

“This trip was a huge achievement for the four young people who all have an autism spectrum disorder, and the difficulty of travelling on public transport would have made the trip impossible. We are very grateful.”