The ARCHIE Foundation calls for local primary schools to join Oor Wullie’s Bucket Trail

As word spreads of an Oor Wullie Dundee invasion for ten weeks this summer, primary schools across Tayside are being asked to play a special role in the rascal’s mission to raise money for The ARCHIE Foundation Tayside Appeal.

Organisers of Oor Wullie’s Bucket Trail, the largest mass participation public art event ever seen in the region, are appealing for local primary schools to join in the fun by designing and painting their own miniature Oor Wullie sculpture. The ARCHIE Foundation, along with partners Wild in Art and DC Thomson, are urging schools to engage with the Bucket Trail and seize the opportunity to be part of something very special and unique to the area.

Schools are also being asked to come up with ways to raise crucial funds for The ARCHIE Foundation’s Tayside appeal to raise two million pounds to help create a brand new twin operating surgical suite for the Tayside Children’s Hospital at Ninewells.

With 25 miniature Oor Wullie sculptures available to primary schools within Tayside, each participating school will receive a blank miniature Oor Wullie sculpture accompanied by a full curriculum linked Education Resource Pack.

The pack also includes resources that will enable schools to speak to the students about being in hospital in a sensitive and age-appropriate way, helping both educators and students gain a better understanding of the benefits to the community from The ARCHIE Foundation Tayside Appeal and to highlight the importance of the project for children who might at some point need the facilities of Tayside Children’s Hospital.

Cassie Thomson, Head of Fundraising at The ARCHIE Foundation commented:

“We’ve had a great response from schools in the Tayside area looking to get involved with the project and raise some money for The ARCHIE Foundation Tayside Appeal as well as get creative with their miniature sculptures. Our ARCHIE volunteers will be visiting schools across Tayside to help give fundraising ideas and show the children why Oor Wullie’s Bucket Trail is so important.

“We would urge any primary schools who haven’t joined the Bucket Trail yet to sign up as the whole project is a fantastic opportunity for children, their families, teachers and the wider public to be part of something really special. It’s all about raising money to help sick children across the region so we would love to get as many local children involved as possible. An added bonus, the project links in well to the curriculum too, mixing creativity with learning about Scottish culture and iconic characters like Oor Wullie!”

Oor Wullie is very well known by children across the city, with his famous phrases being used to teach youngsters all about traditional Scot’s language. The 25 miniature sculptures will form their own Bucket Trail across the city in libraries and visitor attractions, showcasing the creativity of the young people of Tayside, before being returned to schools for them to keep.

Oor Wullie’s Bucket Trail is set to descend on Dundee and the surrounding areas for ten weeks this summer and, as well as providing an opportunity to showcase the wealth of creative talent in the area, will capture the public’s imagination and create a buzz around the city for both locals and visitors to Tayside.

Dundee is the latest city to host the successful Wild in Art sculpture projects, which have previously included giant cartoon Gromits in Bristol, Dolphins in Aberdeen and GoGoGorillas in Norwich.

To find out more and to download an education packs visit http://oorwulliebuckettrail.com/education/

For further information about the work of The ARCHIE Foundation, visit www.archiefoundationhome.org.uk

ENDS

For press enquiries contact Anna Gunn on 01738 658187 or a.gunn@volpa.co.uk

IMAGE DETAILS: Children at Rowantree Primary School, who were surprised by Oor Wullie during a lesson about Scot’s language.