Congratulations to Diana Award Recipient
Wednesday 21st August 2019Andrew Taylor is a sixth Year Pupil at the High School of Glasgow, a member of 1st West Kilbride Boys’ Brigade Company and also a KGVI Cadet completing his officer training at Carronvale this summer.
Andrew was nominated by his school nurse for The Diana Memorial Award which is awarded “to young people for their social action or humanitarian work”. Andrew was selected by the judging panel as a deserved recipient for his work towards promoting better discussions and work for better mental health facilities within schools.
He demonstrates the belief of Diana, Princess of Wales, that young people have the power to change the world. Andrew’s contribution relates to depression and anxiety caused by school pressure and stress, trying particularly to get boys to talk honestly about how they are feeling.
Andrew set up groups that met on a Friday lunch where anyone in 5th/6th year could meet and just sit and chill and talk about whatever they wanted. Andrew also set up a whole booking system so that each classroom and toilet in the school has a QR code which can be scanned on your phone and takes you to a site where you can discreetly book an appointment with the school nurse/counsellor. To draw attention to the support system, Andrew also spoke at a school assembly of his own personal struggles to show that it’s not an unusual or unacceptable thing and that it is right to speak up and to accept help. As a result of these experiences, Andrew co-wrote, with the school nurse, a 3-week block of lessons for 1st Year pupils regarding mental wellbeing.
Andrew was presented with his award at the Scottish Parliament on 14th June 2019.
