AN Ilkley school has raised more than £2,200 for the NSPCC after pupils donned their wellies to fundraise following the leading children’s charity’s Speak Out Stay Safe assembly.

Pupils at Sacred Heart Catholic School on Valley Drive in Ilkley raised a staggering £2,231 after completing a Tough Mudder type sponsored course with year six pupils helping smaller children around the obstacles in a day of deliciously muddy fun. The pupils were keen to fundraise for the charity after volunteers from the NSPCC delivered a Speak Out Stay Safe Assembly.

Mrs Alixena Lubomski, Headteacher said: “The children across school were inspired by the NSPCC presentation earlier in October and wanted to raise as much money as possible to help other children. Year 6 worked with staff to design a Tough Mudder course and every child in the school (and some staff) completed the challenges with enthusiasm and great excitement. I am so proud of them all! The added bonus was the tremendous amount that the children raised through the generosity of their families and friends.”

In the Leeds and Bradford district over the 2016/17 school year NSPCC volunteers spoke to 36,788 children and visited 130 primary schools to deliver the charity's Schools Service programme, teaching children how to keep themselves safe from abuse and neglect.

For each of the primary schools visited NSPCC volunteers present two slightly different assemblies – one for the younger children in Key Stage One, and another for the older Key Stage Two pupils. The aim is to help children understand about different types of abuse so that they can get help if or when they need it.

The assembly helps children to identify a trusted adult they can speak to if they are ever worried about themselves or a friend along with information about Childline.

Mandy Young, NSPCC local schools’ coordinator said: “I would like to congratulate the pupils of Sacred Heart Catholic school for their efforts in fundraising for the NSPCC. It is so brilliant.

“Thanks to everyone’s generosity, we will be able to reach even more vulnerable children when they need us the most – whether it’s through Childline, our Helpline, in schools or one of our therapeutic service centres across the country.”

If you would like to sign your school up, to help children and empower school communities to fight for every child to have a happy childhood, then visit https://www.nspcc.org.uk/services-and-resources/working-with-schools/contact-childline-schools-service/