A Portadown school has launched an appeal to the local community to support their bid to win the Cool FM Cash for Kids Schools Challenge.
Presentation Primary School is one of a small number of schools qualified to the challenge, which requires them to raise as much money as they can over a four-week period to be in with the chance of winning a top-up grant from Cash for Kids NI.
The aim of the initiative is to help schools to support disadvantaged students by funding services such as breakfast clubs and other activities.
Based on Thomas Street in Portadown, Presentation Primary School has 270 pupils, of which over 92% are newcomer pupils – meaning those that do not speak English as their first language.
Many families involved with the school struggle with cost-of-living constraints, with the school also struggling to provide additional resources to meet the needs of pupils.
One in four pupils at the school receive free school meals, while one in three have received a second-hand uniform for the new term.
The school has been unable to start a parent’s support group, with many families having very limited community and business connections. This means they rely heavily on local church and community charitable support.
The school has already begun fundraising internally, but running events such as: pie the teacher days; bun sales; and crazy hair days.
In a letter sent out to local businesses, Gavin Fox, Acting Principal at the school, called on business owners to help support the school by using opportunities to fundraise.
He wrote: “Over the next three weeks, we will be trying to get as much help as possible for our pupils so that we can provide uniform allowances, sensory equipment, breakfast club, afterschool clubs, pay fruit snack bills, update ICT equipment, counselling services and many more supports that are so greatly needed.
“All these supports will help our children to learn and thrive.
“We only have a short window of time, until 25th October, to fundraise, however we are reaching out for your support now and possibly into the future. By supporting us you will know where your donation is going and how it is supporting local children.”
Businesses are able to contribute to the fundraising in a number of ways: By donating to the school’s fundraising page; running a fundraising event for Cash for Kids; sponsoring uniforms or ICT equipment; donating raffle prizes; and having a collection bucket.
Speaking to Armagh I, teacher Janine McAnespie said: “If people can donate it would mean so much to us. We’re always trying to fundraise and school budgets are extremely tight, so the challenge is great for us.
“This money will be going back into the community, and businesses will see where it’s going. We’re just trying to get the school’s name out there, and make those connections long term.”
You can donate to Presentation Primary School’s appeal by visiting their fundraising page here.
