Autumn term fundraising beats 2018 total

Thursday 16 January 2020 | By Samantha Hockney

Students at Teesside High School have smashed their fundraising target for the 2019-20 academic year, raising more money in the autumn term alone than in the previous academic year.

Groups from across the 3-18 school, based in Eaglescliffe, have launched a number of initiatives to support both local and national causes, raising £4417.45 in the first four months of the academic year, compared to a total of £4285 raised in 2018-19.

Students supported national causes such as Children in Need and Save the Children through Christmas Jumper Day in addition to:

  • Supporting their local church to pay for a group of young volunteers to build houses for underprivileged families in Mexico.
  • Fundraising over £2000 for the Pearl of Africa Children’s Choir, who visited the school in September to share their vision to provide safe communities and education for children in Africa.
  • Running bake sales for Macmillan Cancer Support.
  • Delivering handmade parcels of Christmas gifts to the children’s wards at James Cook University Hospital through All Boxed Up! co-curricular club.
  • Donating over 600 gifts and 400 items to Mission Christmas and the local Trussell Trust foodbank based at the Hebron Church in Stockton.

The school’s community work does not stop there. This year, an enhanced enrichment programme has allowed pupils to assist their local area with activities such as litter picking, or the popular Seniors to Seniors club which allows Senior School students to visit residents at the local Timothy Hackworth Court for a cup of tea and a chat about their day.

Kirsty Mackenzie, Head at Teesside High School, said: “This fantastic achievement is a culmination of hard work and an incredible amount of effort from all corners of the Teesside High School family, from staff and parents to our outstanding students who appreciate the role they can play and the difference they can make in their local community.

“It’s important to recognise that whilst monetary funds can make a huge difference to charitable organisations – giving our time to people and community groups locally has equally as big an effect. Giving up just one hour a week to visit local people in residential homes and care homes in our area can really change the outlook of someone’s week.”