Nairn pupils open Grotto for Santa

There may not be snow in Africa this Christmas time but there will a Santa’s Grotto in Nairn thanks to the Nairn Academy Sports Leaders Dreams and Teams Link with Malawi.

The project supported locally by The Highland Council’s Active Schools Initiative revolves around leadership skills in young adults encouraging learning by actions.

As part of their continued fundraising project to take them to Malawi in June 2010 the team decided as there had been no Santa’s Grotto in Nairn for many years they themselves could make a local dream come true for many youngsters.

They investigated a venue that would encourage Santa Claus to visit the town this year and with outstanding support from the local business community and The Nairn Youth Bank a Grotto has taken shape. Santa Clause himself will make his first appearance at the Winter Lights Switch on this Friday 27 November.

The Grotto in Leopold Street will open from 4pm to 8pm on Friday and on Saturday at 12 noon till 4pm. A post box for Santa will be situated at the Grotto and if letters are posted enclosing a stamp the Nairn Academy Elves will guarantee a reply.

The Dreams & Teams Project which has been in operation since 2006 comes to a conclusion in 2010. During this time the young leaders and families involved in the project have continually delivered activity and supported events in the local community to raise substantial funds that have allowed 13 young leaders to travel to Malawi in 2008 and 10 Malawians to experience a trip of a lifetime when they visited Nairn in the summer of 2009.

Provost of Nairn, Councillor Liz MacDonald said: “Well done to the members of Nairn Academy Sports Leaders Dreams & Teams. It is great to see young people leading by shining example and thinking of others. Their idea to bring Santa’s Grotto back to Nairn town centre is an excellent one that will benefit not only the younger children but local businesses as parents and carers bring their children to Nairn to see Santa.”