Latest news with #LarkhallAcademy
Daily Record
04-07-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Free meals pilot at four South Lanarkshire high schools
Provision will be extended to eligible S1-S3 pupils throughout the new school year. Four South Lanarkshire secondary schools have been selected for a nationwide free meals pilot scheme which will see provision extended to eligible pupils in first to third year from next month. Larkhall Academy, Lesmahagow High, Calderglen High in East Kilbride and Trinity High in Rutherglen will all be included in the Scottish Government test programme in the new school year, meaning free meals will be extended to S1-S3 pupils whose families receive the Scottish Child Payment. Online applications for parents are now open, with the pilot scheme running thoughout the 2025-2026 school year at the four local schools, benefiting more than 425 pupils. South Lanarkshire was announced last month as one of eight local authorities where expansion of the Scottish Government free school meals programme would be piloted for eligible pupils in the first three years of high school. The four participating schools were announced this week, with council leader Joe Fagan saying: 'As part of this scheme, we are now able to open the option of healthy and nutritious school meals to more young people each day of the new school year. 'I welcome the news that hundreds of pupils will be able to receive this vital assistance – extending free school meals to pupils in need in our secondary schools is an ambition of our council and this pilot can help us realise that.' Parents and carers of S1-S3 pupils at Larkhall, Lesmahagow, Calderglen and Trinity who receive the Scottish Child Payment are asked to apply for free meals online at Those who already receive free school meals do not need to reapply. The test programme is an expansion of Scotland's existing free school meals programme, which is currently provided to all pupils in primaries one to five and to eligible pupils in the last two years of primary and throughout secondary. Mairi McAllan, the Clydesdale MSP and Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Housing, welcomed the inclusion of Lesmahagow High in her constituency in the 'test of change' expanded pilot phase throughout the 2025-2026 academic year. She noted: "Funded by the SNP Scottish Government, it means that S1 - S3 pupils will have access to a free, healthy meal each day as part of the trial, and that's a game changer for many families. "The pilot program will run for one year, starting in August 2025, and it will evaluate the impact of providing free school lunches to a wider group of secondary school students. 'At a time when household budgets are under real pressure, this is practical support that makes a real difference. It's also about fairness, making sure every child, no matter their background, has the same chance to thrive in school." And she added: 'Free school meals are not just about food, they're about dignity, equality and opportunity. That's what we're delivering here in Clydesdale and across Scotland under John Swinney.' The South Lanarkshire pilot was also previously praised by Gillian Mackay, the Green MSP for Central Scotland, who said: 'This will be a huge boost for young people and their families. 'No child should ever be too hungry to learn, but that is the reality for many pupils across Scotland. Free school meals make a real difference to young people's health, wellbeing and their ability to focus in the classroom.' * Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
Daily Record
01-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Team Cameron take challenge in their stride and get a warm welcome back in Shotts
The four-year-old boy was recently diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy A group from Shotts took on the 23-mile long Mighty Stride at the Glasgow Kiltwalk to raise money for a four-year-old boy recently diagnosed with a serious genetic condition. The 45-strong Team Cameron were led by his mum Natalie, a school teacher at Larkhall Academy, with his dad Mark also taking on the challenge. They set off from The Marbles Club in Shotts early on Sunday morning by coach before taking on the walking challenge that finishes in Balloch on the banks of Loch Lomond. The couple were told in September last year that their son Cameron has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a rare condition which worsens over time, leading to weakness and wasting away of the body's muscles. Given the diagnosis at the age of three, Cameron is one of the youngest people in Scotland with the muscle-wasting disease that ultimately leads to disability and a shorter life span. Currently, the life expectancy of someone with DMD is around 30 years. The youngster has physio every night and wears splints to bed. He is set to start school this year and at the moment is thriving in every way, reaching every expected milestone, but his mum and dad are fully aware that will change. Natalie and Mark were told by specialists that the prognosis for young people with DMD is much more positive now compared to a decade or so ago. There are groundbreaking research trials for treatment and gene therapy but that can come at a huge cost. The couple admit they don't know what lies ahead for Cameron but he is going to need a wheelchair, as by mid to late teens he will be fully dependent on it, and they will need to convert their garage into a downstairs room. They also want to be prepared if they need to travel to London or America to see Duchenne Specialists. The aim was to raise £20,000 and they are not far short of the mark now. Cameron was there to meet the walkers when they returned to Shotts. Natalie said: 'All 45 members of the team made it across the finishing line with granny Jacqueline strutting ahead and finishing first. It took us about seven or eight hours depending on how many pit stops we each took. 'There isn't a part of my body that isn't aching but it was for Cameron and his wee face when we came off the bus at the end of the day was priceless. He danced along to the 'Wee Shotts Piper' and gave out goodie bags to the team. 'It also looks like we will be reaching our target of £20k. Amazing effort by all. 'Whenever we have our rough days, we will always remember the Glasgow Kiltwalk 2025 and the support and donations we received for Cameron. 'We hope that one day Cameron will take part in one of the family Kiltwalk routes himself with his little sister Jessica by his side.'
Daily Record
25-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Parents of four-year-old Shotts boy with muscle-wasting genetic condition determined to give him a brighter future
A Shotts mum will head a 45-strong group taking part in this weekend's Glasgow Kiltwalk to raise money for her four-year-old son who was recently diagnosed with a serious genetic condition. Natalie and Mark Winter were told in September last year that their son Cameron has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a rare condition which worsens over time, leading to weakness and wasting away of the body's muscles. Given the diagnosis at the age of three, Cameron is one of the youngest people in Scotland with the muscle-wasting disease that ultimately leads to disability and a shorter life span. Currently, the life expectancy of someone with DMD is around 30 years. The youngster gets physio every night and wears splints to bed. He is set to start school this year and at the moment is thriving in every way. He has reached every expected milestone but his mum and dad know that will change. Cameron is currently part of a clinical trial accessing Givinostat in Newcastle, a life-prolonging medication for a very rare disease. He is one of very few boys in the world, and possibly the only one in the UK involved in the trial. His parents want to raise awareness of the condition and let other families know that there is hope for children with DMD. Mum Natalie, a school teacher at Larkhall Academy, said: 'Cameron started nursery in January last year and it was them that picked up on it. He was a wee bit clumsy on his feet and was walking on his toes, and wasn't keen on walking a staircase. He only leads with one leg and only does one stair at a time. He spends a lot of time with his papa, my dad is his best pal, and we just thought he was mimicking him because he was with him all the time. 'The health visitor came out the same week and referred him to physio and thought he had weak ankles but wanted a second opinion. They went out to the nursery and agreed with the nursery teachers and decided they would look into it further. The following week we got a diagnosis after a blood test. It was a devastating time but we're positive and hopeful. 'Cameron is a massive superheroes fan and calls them his special muscles. Every time he goes for blood tests he asks if it's going green, he thinks he's like the Hulk.' Natalie and Mark were told by specialists that the prognosis for young people with DMD is much more positive now compared to a decade or so ago. There are groundbreaking research trials for treatment and gene therapy but that can come at a huge cost. Duchenne's can either be passed to a child through its mother or by spontaneous mutation. Natalie, who also has one-year-old daughter Jessica, was relieved to find out that she is not a carrier. A GoFundMe page was set up and Natalie decided to take part in the Kiltwalk's 23-mile Mighty Stride. A total of 45 are leaving from The Marbles Club, Shotts, on Sunday at 8.30am and amongst the others Natalie will be joined by include her school's depute and three other colleagues, Cameron's gran and other relatives, a group of mums from his nursery, and others who've picked up on his story. They will be returning home to Shotts around 7.30pm and will be welcomed by The Wee Shotts Piper and Cameron who will be giving out thank you bags filled with Scottish goodies. Natalie added: 'There are some ground breaking research trials going on for Duchenne but like anything, it costs money. Gene therapy is available in America but it costs £3million. If you can get a clinical trial then you only have to cover the other cost such as travel and accommodation. 'We are unsure what lies ahead for Cameron but we do need money now so that if we need to travel to London or America to see Duchenne specialists, we don't have to wait about. 'He's going to need a wheelchair, as by mid to late teens he will be fully dependent on that, and we live in an up and downstairs house so we'll need to convert our garage into a downstairs room for him, because he won't manage stairs. 'We are really up against it but you'd do anything for your kids. 'In September we were given the number for Great Ormond Street and phoned that day but Cameron will be too old for the trial as he will be five by then, and you need to be three or four years old. 'Life has been completely turned upside down for us. The thing that we're fighting for is for Cameron to live a happy life and gets chances like everyone else.' The fundraiser has already raised almost £15,000. You can donate at: * Don't miss the latest he adlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here . And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook ? Head on over and give us a like and share!
