Student Volunteer Makes a Splash

Notre Dame is very proud of upper sixth student Leah Schofield, who is now a Phase 5 Young Leader with the Desmond Family Canoe Trail.

You may remember Leah from an article back in February 2020, when she completed a sponsored 10-kilometre canoe event to fundraise for the BBC Radio 4 Appeal for End Youth Homelessness. It turns out that was just a small part of the hard work Leah has been doing in the service of her community.

“After I completed the National Citizen Service (NCS) project with the Desmond Family Canoe Trail, I became interested in the project and started volunteering straightaway.” Leah says. The activities she’s been involved with include improving the environment around the canoe trail through litter picking and cleaning, and taking part in canoe sessions and the great Santa Splash event in Castleford.

“My highlight was canoeing with NCS and Desmond Family Canoe Trail in Kirkstall as that’s when I realised I enjoyed canoeing and the difference I could make volunteering with the Canal & River Trust.” Leah says. “I would recommend getting involved; it increases your water sports skills, makes you feel better, and volunteering helps the communities to improve the state and quality of the canals, wildlife and ecosystems around us.”

You can find out more about the Desmond Family Canoe Trail and the Canal & River Trust here.