A youngster from Teignmouth was treated to a tour of Hector’s House cat rescue after organising a collection for the charity.

Darcey Fogden, who attends Our Lady and St Patrick Primary School, collected donations of food, treats, toys and blankets from family, friends, parents and staff at her school, and local supermarket, Morrisons.

When she dropped off the donations on Monday (December 9), she had the opportunity to meet staff and have a look around the centre to get a first-hand view of the charity’s activities.

Animal lover and cat aficionado Darcey learned about Hector’s House Cat Rescue after her grandparents recently adopted two kittens from the charity. She was so impressed by the rescue’s work that she decided to nominate Hector’s House as her chosen charity as she works towards her Torbay and Devon Civic Award.

‘Darcey has clearly put so much thought and effort into helping the rescue, and we were absolutely delighted to meet her, give her a tour around the centre and take a photo together to celebrate her hard work,’ a spokesperson from Hector’s House said. ‘Her kindness will make a real difference to the cats in our care.’

The Torbay and Devon Civic Award was founded in 2004 by former teacher Karen Thomson. She developed the initiative to encourage pupils in the final year of primary school to demonstrate active citizenship and to support a charitable cause.

Over the past 21 years, the Civic Award has grown and last year nearly 500 children from 40 primary schools took part in the scheme bringing the total number of youngsters to achieve the award to nearly 5,000.

To receive the award children have to show that they are active citizens by: taking up positions of responsibility in school and volunteering in their local community; being regularly involved in hobbies; going on a residential and taking part in adventure activities; adopting and supporting a cause or charity; and making a pledge to help the environment.