Copnor Primary School children raise hundreds of pounds to support safe return to school

Pupils Owain Manson, Leyton Bessey, Liam Keenan, Jack Ware, all five, Ellis Edwards, four, Riley Ware, seven and Sophie Keenan, 11, have walked, cycled and scootered their way to more than £500 for Copnor Primary School. The children’s families hope the money can be used to purchase additional resources and toys, so children don’t have share items, and hand sanitiser to be used in school.

Over the last week, to raise money, the children have been covering individual distances to hit their combined target of 60 miles.

Owain said: ‘I’m raising money for my school, for things for us to work with and to keep the school clean. It would be nice to see my friends and teachers even though I have to stay two metres apart.’

The initiative was organised by Owain’s mother, Claire Stonebridge, 33, who wanted to do something to help put parents’ minds at ease over worries about children returning to school. The last week has seen both the teaching unions and the city’s headteachers expressing their ‘serious concerns’ about children potentially returning on June 1.

Claire, who is a learning support assistant at Mayfield School, said: ‘The money will be used to buy equipment to reduce the need for children to share. I understand some parents may think it is too soon to return but we wanted to give something back to the school to help put measures in place.

‘At the moment, schools can’t host the events they would use for additional fundraising. Our initial target was £250 and we got that in a couple of hours.’

After spending time in Mayfield supporting key worker children, Claire is confident that schools will be able to reopen safely.

‘I’ve seen how my school has implemented measures and I’m confident children will follow instructions to stay apart. It will be good to get children back into school as they have missed out both socially and educationally,’ said Claire.

You can donate to the cause at the children’s JustGiving page.

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