Young people from across East Ayrshire have taken part in a Community Christmas Challenge and have been spreading some Christmas cheer at local schools.

The Activity Agreement Group, which includes young people who are disengaged from mainstream education, were challenged to gather donations of selection boxes for pupils who attend our special schools.
The group approached Morrison Construction and Jim Johnstone, Community Skills Manager, was delighted to get on board with the project.
Morrison Construction donated a whopping 250 selection boxes and helped the young people hand out the sweet treats at Park School and Crosshouse Communication Centre.
The children were delighted with their gifts and their smiles lit up their classrooms.
The second part of the Christmas Challenge was to provide a selection box or a small present to pupils in our primary and secondary schools who might not expect to receive presents this Christmas.
Depute Provost Claire Leitch, Children’s Champion said:
“The young people from the Activity Agreement Group have worked really hard gathering donations for children and young people from schools across East Ayrshire. Last year’s team collected 155 presents and 279 selection boxes and they aimed to smash that total.
“Getting Morrison Construction on board was a stroke of genius; their generous donation helped the young people reach their target really quickly. The group has also received donations from Arnold Clark, SCS Engineering and Ayrshire Warriors and I cannot thank all the sponsors enough for their generosity.
“The young people are now gathering donations of small presents or selection boxes from our employees who have been giving so generously.
“The hard reality is that many children and young people will be waking up on Christmas Day to either very little or no presents. The group, which includes young people who have experience of the care system, want to make a difference to the lives of these children and young people.
"They are wrapping presents like Santa’s elves making sure that they can bring a smile to the faces of those less fortunate this Christmas.”