Students at Washington Academy, part of Consilium Academies, have secured a funding bid from the local council to support their fundraising mission for Tiny Lives, a charity dedicated to premature or sick babies and their families.

 

Twelve Washington students involved in the school’s ‘Literacy Leaders Programme’ have received £500 to aid their fundraising activities and resources over the next year, helping Tiny Lives to supply resources and funds to the RVI Neonatal Unit in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.  

 

Washington’s Literacy Leaders are passionate about literacy, and run their own peer learning projects and literacy initiatives supported by a staff mentor.

 

Washington Academy invited Tiny Lives to an event hosted by the school in November, where students had the chance to learn more about what they do for the RVI Neonatal Unit and the families involved.

 

The bid was awarded by the Washington Area Neighbourhood and Community Board and their ‘CAN DO’ Fund, which aims to support children and young people on a small project to benefit themselves, other children and young people, and their local community.

 

Students will be working alongside local craft groups as part of a ‘Crafty Cuppas’ initiative, learning skills such as knitting, pottery, embroidery and card making to create gifts for affected babies and their families to be sold at craft afternoons and a community raffle. The funds will also place libraries in three local neonatal units in Sunderland, Gateshead and Newcastle, allowing parents to read to their babies in neonatal care.

 

Washington students are on the lookout for more local craft groups to help them achieve as much as possible for their fundraising project, which kicks off in February 2023.  

 

Amelia S, Year 9 student at Washington Academy, part of Consilium Academies, said:

 

“We are running this project to support families like mine who are going through a hard time. My family was in this position eight years ago when my little sister was in hospital. My mam was only allowed to hold her if she was being fed, and the beeping noises put her on edge.

 

“Giving the families a chance to do something nice during this time would make me really proud”.

 

Faye H, Year 9 student at Washington Academy, said:

 

“I think this cause is amazing and more people should join us this year and help!”

 

Louise Carroll, Community and Events Fundraiser at Tiny Lives, said:

 

“It was our pleasure to go along to Washington Academy and talk to the students about Tiny Lives and the work we do to support the families and babies who have experienced time on the Neonatal Unit at the RVI.

 

It was lovely to hear how the students are working together with hopes to work with the wider community on their projects with the possibility of fundraising for Tiny Lives. We can’t thank the students enough for their enthusiasm and for kindly choosing to support Tiny Lives.  

We would like to wish the students good luck with their project and we hope we can all meet again in the future to hear all about their projects.”

 

Nicola Williamson, Finance, Marketing and Community Engagement Officer at Washington Academy, said:

 

“I’m really proud of our Literacy Leaders, the maturity they are showing and the thought they are putting into our community. It’s been an honour to support in them in achieving this bid and the whole school is so excited to see their work.”

 

“I can’t thank Washington Area Committee enough for their generosity in supporting our goal to make a positive different in our community and give back to those that need it most.

“It’s fantastic to see our students taking on so much responsibility and initiative. We at Washington have high expectations of our students, in terms of behaviour and commitment to school life, and their work for Tiny Lives truly demonstrates this.”