In December 2018 we decided that we would buy some football strips for the S1, S2 and S3 boys’ teams plus the S1 to S3 girls’ team. As well as refreshing our kits, which was much needed, this gave us the opportunity to support a number of organisations and initiatives which are close to our hearts within the Coltness High wider school community.

In previous years we have been very lucky to receive playing kits from beneficiaries such as Deans Pharmacy and Scottish Gas Networks. This year having no sponsorship for the strips we decided to use this opportunity to place the logos of charities that we have worked with or are close to our hearts. The following outlines the thinking behind these logos and a bit of background to why they have found their way onto our kits.

The Coltness High School Badge

The pupils within Coltness are proud to be part of the school. This also means that they are proud to wear the school badge, none more so than when they are playing sport on behalf of the school. It was therefore essential that each and every strip has the school badge on it.

The Poppy

Each strip is emblazoned with a poppy. These were placed on all the strips to mark the end of World War One and to show our appreciation and remembrance of all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in order that we as citizens of 2019 have the freedoms we have.

Suicide Prevention

Coltness High has become the first school to get behind Suicide Prevention in North Lanarkshire by displaying messages on the back of their strips.

The Wishaw based secondary will feature Suicide Prevention on their strips and join local professional clubs and grassroots clubs Calderbraes FC, Shotts YMCA and Motherwell Community Trust in supporting the life-saving campaign.

Almost one person every week dies by suicide in North Lanarkshire and the High School has pledged to support Suicide Prevention North Lanarkshire and raise awareness that help is available for those who need it. Suicide is responsible for more deaths in Scotland each year than traffic accidents. It particularly affects young men.

John McGilp, Head Teacher of Coltness HS said: “We are delighted to be getting involved with such an important campaign and to be the first school in the authority to take part is really pleasing. We want to help in whatever way we can to help try and prevent suicides occurring within our communities.”

Lynne MacDonald, Suicide Prevention Lead with North Lanarkshire Council added: “Getting school pupils and teachers involved in supporting Suicide Prevention is a massive step forward for our campaign. Suicide has no age limits and suicidal thoughts can and do affect young people. We want to make people aware that there is help available if they are concerned about suicide or are worried about friends or family members. By raising awareness of how to recognise the signs sometimes associated with suicide, people will be in a better position to offer support and perhaps save lives. I would also encourage people to sign-up to our ‘RU THAT GUY’ text alerts which encourages people to ‘be that’ person who will look out for their friends and family.”

Sign-up by texting THATGUY to 60163 or join for free by emailing your mobile number to: thatguy@northlan.gov.uk

St Andrew’s Hospice – Strip to be worn by the S1 Boys

Coltness High have a strong partnership with St Andrews’ Hospice.  The hospice need over £70,000 each week to deliver the support they offer to their patients and families.  Each year the school fundraise through the S1 Tinto climbs, the S5/6 Ben Nevis climb, the 6K walk/ run round Strathclyde Park and a sponsored ‘Muddy Muckers’ around an outdoor assault course.  The Hospice support the school with a range of careers events and the Hospice Ambassador scheme.  Currently, a team of around 15 senior pupils in Coltness are involved in promoting the work of the hospice in our school community. At Coltness we aim to raise awareness of St Andrew’s Hospice by displaying their logo on our football strips.

PSPA – Strip to be worn by the S1-S3 Girls

Coltness has supported the “Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Association” (or PSPA), for around 8 years through our annual staff barbecue. PSP is a neurological condition caused by the premature loss of nerve cells in certain parts of the brain. Diagnosis of PSP is rising dramatically as patients (historically) have been misdiagnosed with other conditions such as Parkinsons or Motor Neurone Disease. Research into PSP is relatively new and funding is desperately required. At Coltness we aim to raise awareness of this condition by displaying the PSPA logo on our football strips in the hope that even more support and treatment will be available for the future.

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund – Strip to be worn by the S3 Boys

Not only did 2018 marked the end of the Great War but it also marked the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force. The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund principal activities are the following:

  • To provide assistance to the RAF family, when they are in need.
  • Support children growing up on RAF stations,
  • Provide respite breaks for RAF families and veterans
  • To support the morale and wellbeing of serving RAF.
  • To maintain and preserve the RAF and Bomber Command Memorials in London

This is another charity close to our hearts within the Coltness community. Young people within our community are members of the local Air Cadet Squadron and both our Head Teacher and Head of PEs’ dads both former members of the Royal Air Force. It is our hope that by wearing the charity’s logo on our football strips that it will raise awareness of the organization.

Chernobyl’s Angels of Hope (Biggar) – Strip to be worn by the S2 Boys

This final charity was chosen by Mrs Bennie and is one that is close to her heart. The school, and in particular the footballing staff, felt that it was a fitting way to raise awareness of an organisation that she has championed over the years.

The charity was set up as a result of the Chernoybl Nuclear Disaster of Saturday the 26th April 1986.

An estimated 700,000 children currently live on the land contaminated by this explosion. It brings some of the poorest Belarusian children to Scotland for one month a year for 3-5 years. This respite has a huge positive effect on their current and future health.  The visits help boost their immune systems, gives them a break from their often desperate domestic conditions and allow them to receive medical help. During their month long stay the children live with a host family. They encourage host families to invite the same child to return to them for between 3 and 5 years. During the visit the charity establishes a “school” with a full programme of educational activities allowing the host families to continue with their normal working lives.

It is our hope that by wearing the charity’s logo on our football strips that it will raise awareness of the organisation.

 Joma and Total Teamwear Scotland

Coltness High School are delighted to continue to work in partnership both with Joma and Total Teanwear Scotland. They have been producing our sportswear now for the last three years. A combination of their helpfulness, quality, value for money and efficiency are the main contributing factors as to why we have gone back to them on a regular basis during this time. It is a partnership that we hope to continue over the coming years.

Andrew Barrowman (Joma Sport Brand Manager for Scotland) said of the partnership “We are delighted to continue our relationship with Coltness High School in partnership with our retailer Total Teamwear Scotland. As a former pupil of the school it gives me great pleasure to see the various school sports teams wearing our brand. Everyone at Joma Sport and Total Teamwear Scotland looks forward to continuing to support the school wherever possible in the future. We hope our kit brings the various sporting teams’ good luck on the field of play.”