An Aberdeenshire teacher has created a digital colouring book with pictures of schools across the north-east to help children who are missing them during lockdown.
Nicola Robertson, who teaches design and technology at Mintlaw Academy, said she had the idea to start drawing schools after her own son told her how much he wished he was still going to Auchterellon Primary in Ellon.
After it proved popular with other parents at the school, Mrs Robertson received requests from other parents in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and beyond asking her to draw their children’s schools as well.
And now, she has amassed a list of around 50 requests from parents to include their local schools in her online colouring book.
She has decided to use the opportunity to raise cash for the charity Abernecessities, an organisation that helps families across the north-east living in poverty by giving them essential items they need for their babies and children.
“I’ve got two little kids of my own, and my eldest is in primary one, so he’s really gutted and missing school, so I made him a colouring-in sheet with a picture of his own school on it, Auchterellon.
“I sent it to his head teacher and she asked for a copy to send out to all of the kids, and so I tweeted about it – and people like the idea so much that I’ve now all of a sudden got a list of 50 schools wanting a colouring in sheet featuring their schools.
“I’ve been doing one or two a day, but the list has now become so big that I decided to start asking for donations, because I wanted to make some cash at the same time for a good cause.
“I’m at around £230 just now, and I’m just on school number 25 right now so there’s still a lot to go.
“There’s a mixture of schools from across the city and the shire, and I’ve had a few requests from Glasgow and Edinburgh too.”
Mrs Robertson added: “I really wanted to support a local charity.
“I’ve got two little kids, and it’s really sad to think about anyone struggling that has young children at the moment, and I knew Abernecessities are doing great work so I wanted to get some money to those guys and help them out.”
