A huge Thank You to the Team at Oregon Timber Frame Selkirk and the Barratt Foundation for the donation of £16,564 towards the work of Harris Trust which will be used for our Outdoor Learning activities.

The Team, led by Rory Anderson, organised a 'St Cuthbert's Way Challenge' and walked the 100km route over the 4-7th September with colleagues, friends and family. As Rory said - it was a journey of resilience, teamwork and purpose creating lasting memories for all.

The Team's fundraising efforts were match funded by the Barratt Foundation.

On Sunday 19th October we will be having our annual Lilliesleaf 10kRun / Walk.

This year is pretty special though because its the 10th anniversary! The race was started in 2015 as a community fundraising event and since 2021 has been the main fundraiser for the Harris Trust. We hope there will be more participants than ever!

Sign up online if you want to run the 10k via EntryCentral. If you would rather walk and take in the beautiful scenery then come along at 10am no need to register, just be ready to start with the other walkers (and dogs on leads) from the Leaf Green!

Harris Trust funded 12 sports coaches to take part in a day of training with Beth Morrison from Positive and Active Behaviour Support Scotland (www.pabss.org) and James Kiely from Strathmore Community Rugby Club (www.strathmoretrust.co.uk). Most of the coaches were from rugby clubs in the Borders but there was also an Active Schools co-ordinator, Gymnastic coach and a Youth Worker. We are so pleased that the theory and practical sessions were so well received and the feedback was excellent. We are thrilled to be building a network of coaches that understand how to make play and sport more accessible for autistic children and young people. Thanks again to Selkirk RFC for supporting us by providing the venue.

The 3rd annual SPaRKs Showcase held at MacArts in Galashiels on Thursday was a big success. After another year of weekly sessions it was an excellent showcase of the students' musical talents and creativity. The groups from Selkirk, Galashiels and Jedburgh had the opportunity to perform a selection of covers as well as a first ever original composition from the Galashiels group. They showed fantastic musical maturity and had the audience engaged throughout, with a diverse range of musical styles and genres. For the second half of the evening, Dubinski rocked the MacArts venue with an energetic performance. We are so grateful to this up and coming group of brothers for taking time out of their busy touring schedule and inspiring the students with their music. We would also like to thank MacArts, Galashiels for their collaborative efforts throughout the year, not just for hosting the showcase but also the Galashiels sessions on Monday evenings.

Harris Trust and Selkirk High School Celebrates Forest and Outdoor Learning Success following completion of a year-long course run by Newbattle Abbey College and funded by the Harris Trust. Selkirk High School staff members, John Baxter and Anna Johnson have successfully achieved their Forest and Outdoor Learning Leadership Award Level 8.

Despite the storm warnings, a record 140 runners arrived to brave this tough wee course as well as heaps of walkers and doggies. The rain gave way to some hints of sunshine and a rainbow and Piper Alan Lindsay kept spirits up by filling the top Riddell fields with Scottish tunes.

Thanks to all those who volunteer to help with this annual event - we couldn't do it without you! Over £3,500 was raised from this event.

Forest and Outdoor Learning at Selkirk High School in Partnership with the Harris Trust.

Judy Paul from Newbattle Abbey College has started to run a Forest and Outdoor Learning Award programme for young people in S3 at Selkirk High School with funding from Harris Trust.

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Harris Trust is delighted to have the ‘SPaRKs’ and ‘Music with Erin’ sessions running in several schools this academic year.

Read on to find out more about them. We are always happy to discuss any creative music projects that young musicians would like to deliver with our support.

Please get in touch via email

This past academic year I have worked alongside the Harris Trust to develop an 8 week programme introducing songwriting as a therapeutic and positive skill to maintain wellbeing and embrace creativity.

We have completed our first block and seen some positive outcomes. The block consisted of two groups of second and third year pupils, most of which diagnosed or seeking diagnosis of .........

On 13th and 14th March 2023, the ‘It Takes All Kinds of Minds’ (ITAKOM) conference about Neurodiversity welcomed over 1,000 to Scotland's capital, both in person and virtually from 24 countries. Delegates who made this event a success came with varying perspectives including educators, neurodivergent individuals, academics, and care sector professionals.

Harris Trust Fundraiser: MacArts, Galashiels, TD1 1SP Fri 3rd March 2023

Featuring: Haiver (Billy Kennedy of Frightened Rabbit) 3 out of 4 S.P.a.R.Ks Ensemble The SPaRKs music project at Selkirk High School has been an inspiring journey for a group of senior students and we look forward to this opportunity to showcase their work along with their fantastic mentors Sam Johnston, Billy Kennedy and Jordi Douglas.

Harris Trust has developed an exciting music project with Sam Johnston and Erin Highton to provide opportunities for junior and senior students at Selkirk High School to learn, feel inspired and enjoy music and all the benefits it gives to our mental health and well being. Sam and Erin are working with 18 students over a 12-week period on song writing, composing, playing and performing as well as learning about sound production and the music industry.

Young and old flocked to Liliesleaf at the weekend for the annual 10k held as a fundraiser for Harris Trust. The skies turned blue after all the overnight rainstorms and more than 100 walkers set off from the Leaf Green in glorious sunshine.

John Beattie offered an interview on Radio Scotland Drivetime show on 10 May. Listen 1 hour 19 minutes into the show. Please share as change is needed.

The Selkirk High School music recording studio opened in March 2022 and creates many possibilities for young people.

Fantastic turnout of runners and walkers for the Lilliesleaf 10K for Harris Trust. The family are so grateful for the show of love and support and all the people who volunteered to help.

Harris Trust funds the equipment to create a music recording studio at Selkirk High School.

NOW OPEN - March 2022 - Updated info and pics