A SHAKE and desserts shop in Newton-le-Willows has been offering an awards service for youngsters in the community.
The owners of Shakey J’s on Newton High Street noticed the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on children and young people’s mental health, and wanted to help spark joy with their business.
The desserts restaurant later introduced a weekly award to be given every Friday, where local pupils who won the award would receive a free waffle, shake, or sugar free ice blast.
Claire Ann, part owner of the business, said: "So we began just prior to Covid by sponsoring St Peters Respect and Manners award, which was really well received by teachers, parents and students; then we were hit by Covid.
"Having a young family of our own, we saw the impact it had on the children getting back into the routine of school and sport.
"We then held a Facebook competition where we asked people which school they would like to nominate to roll out the respect and manners award."
The prize voucher followed the shake shop sponsoring Newton FC to help them purchase kits, which later sparked the idea of the weekly award.
St Mary’s infants were the winners, followed closely by the juniors who Shakey J’s approached with the offer.
Claire added: "The headteachers of both sites were very grateful and excited to get started.
"We’ve heard there are lots of ‘oooos’ and ‘ahhhhs’ when it comes to handing out the Shakey J’s respect and manners award on a Friday."
The competition has become a success for the business, with the shop recently offering to sponsor Newton Primary, District School, and Stagecoach Newton-le-Willows, with a range of awards up for grabs, including attendance and star of the week.
The mum-of-four said: "We absolutely love Fridays seeing the school children come in with a big smile on their faces clutching their vouchers.
"We always make a fuss of them and ask them why they were chosen; long may it continue."
Shakey J’s opened in 2016 with their efforts within the community beginning with Claire’s husband Chris sponsoring the football club’s kits.
The businessowners also noticed the impact of the pandemic with their own family, which fuelled them to help other youths around Newton.
Claire is a mum-of-four, with her fourth born during lockdown.
She said: "During Covid we had our eldest daughter in university doing a nursing degree, our eldest son heading into year 11, our youngest daughter moving from infants to the juniors and then I gave birth prematurely two weeks into lockdown to our youngest son - it was a hell of a year, so we literally seen the impact on all levels."
Both Claire and Chris were thankful for the nurses from the neo natal team during the birth of their premature son and delivered a thanksgiving gift to them.
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