Aisling given major award

Aisling given major award

29 February 2012

A DOWNPATRICK student has picked up a major all-Ireland award for her dedicated community work.

Seventeen year-old Aisling Baker, a student at St. Patrick’s Grammar School, has been chosen from a long list of applicants to receive one of only 20 Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards for her work with autistic children and other charities.

Aisling was nominated for the award by Sean Sloan, principal of St. Patrick’s grammar, for the outstanding work she does in her community and further afield. Mr. Sloan describes her as “totally reliable, mature and dedicated”.

Aisling volunteers with the group Children and Parents and Autism, caring for children between three and 14 years-old. She encourages and motivates the children to play together and helps them to explore their talents through the use of arts and crafts.

By donating time to the group, it allows parents of the autistic children to have a well-deserved break for a few hours each Saturday.

She is also a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society at her school and helps raise funds for the organisation through activities like bag packing and cake sales.

Aisling is also a qualified reading partner at her school and attends her local Irish medium primary school to assist two students there with their reading. She also takes time out to visit local residential homes and spend some time with the elderly residents.

Aisling is doing all this voluntary work whilst completing her A-levels at the same time.

The Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards are in their sixth year and Henry McGarvey, managing director of Pramerica Systems Ireland, believes they are a wonderful opportunity for people to be rewarded for the generous work that they do in their community.

“Our programme is unique because we unearth the inspirational efforts of our youth that take place quietly in local communities all around Ireland,” he said.