School pupils say 'thank you' with pots of kindness

Last year Wigan-based One Together CIC ran a Festival of Kindness in Aspull village which proved a real success.

They secured lottery funding to do so again this year but due to lockdown this could not happen.

So the group decided to run a competition for the three primary schools in Aspull called Pots of Kindness.

Children from Aspull Church Primary School, St David Haigh and Aspull Primary School and Our Lady’s RC Primary School were invited to write a letter to someone who had shown kindness during lockdown.

One letter from each class in each school was chosen and the child then received a prize and their letters were delivered along with a pot filled with plants to the person they wrote about.

The pots and prizes were delivered last week.

Hayley Kearns, 42, director of One Together CIC, who organised the event, said: “Last year we had a fun day when we did the festival. It was so lovely and the whole community came together.

“So we didn’t want to let it go by and not do anything and we approached the three heads of the schools who said it would be a really goods idea to do the Pots of Kindness and letters.”

In total, 21 children were chosen and received an art box as a prize.

Their letters were then delivered by Hayley along with the pot filled with plants to people including neighbours, parents and grandparents.

Hayley said: “It was very disappointing not to be able to do what we did last year as it was really successful.

“We wanted to carry it on this year and do something so the Pots of Kindness has been really positive in what has been a difficult last few months for the country.”

Last year’s Festival of Kindness took place at The One House community centre in Aspull. It saw hot food and hot and cold drink served as well as reiki tasters, rock painting and crafts including making dream catchers.

And the focus of One Together is on mindfulness.

The group is starting a new block of lottery funded online mindfulness sessions on Saturday mornings and have places for eight, 11 and 16 years olds.

It delivers the sessions via Zoom and daily resources are delivered to your home.

The course will run weekly at 10am for eight weeks.

Mindfulness can help people be more productive, reduce stress and anxiety and builds confidence and makes you happier.

For more information on One Together CIC, people can visit their Facebook page.