Recently Columba College signed up to be part of the SVA Scheme, a free nationwide framework that recognises volunteering efforts of Year 9 – 13 students.

Students are awarded a pin for initial volunteering efforts and log their hours online. A broad definition of volunteering is what underpins the SVA Service Award. Any activity in our school community, the wider community, or at home where students are “helping others and not being paid for it” is eligible. Students register themselves online and then return to their profile to log volunteering hours over their time at secondary school. This enables them to build a Service Record of all their volunteering efforts over the duration of their school career. They can then use that record in job, tertiary and scholarship applications. They can also record hours, which they might also credit towards other awards such as the Saint Columba or Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award Schemes.

It is pleasing to note that, despite the interruption caused by Level 4 lockdown, the following students have already gained awards:

Bronze Award (32 hours)

Year 13:

Ianah Bitac

Olivia Bolwell

Holly Friedlander

Emma McCaughan

Year 12:

Olivia Charles

Emily Prout

Georgia Wong

Year 11:

Kate Henton

Sahara Knopp

Renee Mosley

Josie Herbert

Year 10:

Heidi Palmer

Aliya Drake

Silver Award (250 hours)

Year 11:

Kate Henton

Sahara Knopp

Gold Award (500 hours)

Year 11:

Kate Henton

Special congratulations go to Sahara Knopp for gaining the Silver Award and to Kate Henton for already gaining all three awards