<p>The St. Bridget&#39;s Show Group provides the opportunity for pupils from Primary 4 to 7 to participate in a weekly after school club, to develop their skills in Music, Dance and Drama. This opportunity to expand their knowledge of the Expressive Arts also encourages communication and community as well as building the confidence of all pupils involved. The group will rehearse a Musical and perform this on stage for the rest of the school and local community.&nbsp;</p> <p>This experience not only provides the opportunity for our pupils to explore Drama, Music and Dance at a greater depth, but a chance to perform on stage in a full scale musical.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the cost of living crisis it has proved a challenge to fundraise. The team&nbsp;will be going to their first ever abroad tournament in Holland in March 2024.&nbsp;</p> <p>We have done a huge amount of fundraising to cover the costs of all the boys to travel and stay in Holland.&nbsp;</p> <p>We are applying to this fund to help cover the costs of meals,&nbsp;strips and a zip track top.&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">We wish to improve the physical and mental health and well-being of the children at St. Palladius by increasing the amount of time they spend engaging in extracurricular physical activity.&nbsp; We will fund sports coaches for a dance, football, and netball afterschool club. We will use the funds to promote wider achievements and allow the children to take part in sporting events outwith school.</span></span></span></p>

<p><strong>The link between exercise and mental health is complicated. Inactivity can be both a cause and a consequence of mental illness, for example. But there are lots of ways that exercise can benefit your mental health, such as:</strong></p> <ul> <li> <p><strong>The levels of chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin, stress hormones and endorphins, change when you exercise.&nbsp;</strong></p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Regular exercise can help you sleep better. And&nbsp;<a data-print-url="http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/Mood-and-sleep" href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/Mood-and-sleep">good sleep helps you manage your mood</a>.</strong></p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Exercise can improve your sense of control, coping ability and self-esteem. People who exercise regularly often report how good achieving a goal makes them feel.&nbsp;</strong></p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Exercise can distract you from negative thoughts and provide opportunities to try new experiences.</strong></p> </li> <li> <p><strong>It offers an opportunity to socialise and get social support if you exercise with others.&nbsp;</strong></p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Exercise increases your energy levels.&nbsp;</strong></p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Physical activity can be an outlet for your frustrations.&nbsp;</strong></p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Exercise can reduce skeletal muscle tension, which helps you feel more relaxed.&nbsp;<br /> North Ayrshire ice hockey club creates a safe environment to children/ young adults to support the training needs, proving them with coaches to support ongoing training needs and a facility to do this safely.</strong></p> </li> </ul>

<p>We are looking to secure funding which will be used to support the pupils of Whitehirst Park Primary&nbsp;school. Funding will be used for transport, which will allow pupils to attend sporting events and events involving the arts (Music, Drama and Expressive Arts). Securing this funding will ensure that we can work actively to support our children from&nbsp;the school by allowing them to experience a range of opportunites whilst enhancing&nbsp;their learning. The opportunities to&nbsp;engage them in the lessons and learning they are exposed to in school, but in an out of school environment will help them understand the importane of their learning and give them long lasting memories. Some additional funding will be used to supplement the in-school resources related to these subjects.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>We are an North Ayrshire based mental health charity that supports children and young people to rediscover hope and happiness through theraputic interventions. This Feburary we hosted a very successful &#39;self-care&#39; day&nbsp;for children and young people aged 11-26 in the North Coast Locality, with all activities designed to promote phycial and mental wellbeing. After such a great turn out and positive feeback, we are hoping to do the same again.&nbsp;The &#39;self-care sunday&#39; will be open to children and young people aged 11-26, and will be inclusive of the following activities to promote physical and mental wellbeing; therapy dogs, introduction to yoga and mindfulness, introduction to reki, havening session, art therapy, journalling and gratitude workshop.</p>