Children in East Renfrewshire can learn a new language next week...and raise funds for charity at the same time.

Estrellas Brillantes, which translates as ‘Shining Stars’, is to host a summer club from Monday, July 26, to Friday, July 30, with no prior Spanish knowledge necessary.

It is the brainchild of Rachel Peebles, 40, whose love of languages stems from her nine years in Bolivia, where she spoke Spanish every day while working with families in a Christian community project.

After returning to East Renfrewshire, Rachel decided to start a Spanish club, teaching babies, toddlers and children of primary school age.

The summer club will be held at Cartsbridge Church, in Busby, using crafts, songs and other activities to teach the language.

The proceeds will go towards a small charity, supported by Estrellas Brillantes before, which is run by Jonny and Dana Aird, a young couple from Clarkston and the Czech Republic who run a school in a rural community in Uganda.

Rachel told the Barrhead News: “I worked in Bolivia for nine years with children and families who lived in poverty and didn't have access to all the things we so often take for granted here.

“When I started Estrellas Brillantes I wanted to continue to support vulnerable children and small charities that were working hard to provide basic necessities for children in need.

"This summer the fundraiser club is raising money for Change Tomorrow in Uganda to provide workbooks and stationery for the children from the school to use at home, as the country is back in lockdown, schools are all closed and the children have missed over a year of school.”

Since August 2017, Estrellas Brillantes has raised £10,100 for projects in Bolivia and Uganda, as well as sending Christmas shoeboxes to Romania.

“We couldn’t run the summer club last year due to Covid but we raised around £2,000 at Christmas for Uganda with some special Christmas activities, then £2,300 at Easter this year with the outdoor park classes and zoom bake-a-alongs for Bolivia," added the mum of one.

“We hope to raise another £1000 plus with the summer fundraiser which would bring our total to over £5000 raised through Spanish special events and activities this year, which would be amazing.”

Sessions at the summer club will be held for those aged three to seven from 10am to 12pm, while sessions for those aged eight to 11 will be held from 1pm to 3pm.

The cost is a suggested donation of £60 for the week or £15 per day, or £50 per week and £10 per day each for siblings attending together.

To book a space, send a message via facebook.com/Estrellas.Brillantes.Spanish or call Rachel on 0753 518 3398.