Swindon students raise over £800 for charity

Students at Abbey Park School have raised more than £800 for local and national charities after setting up and running their own Christmas market.

Pupils from the school’s five Houses: Avebury; Barbury, Kennet, Stonehenge and Whitehorse, organised and ran Christmas stalls during Abbey Park’s first-ever House Christmas Market.  

The pupils came up with ideas for the festive stalls including Christmas-themed crafts, cakes, biscuits, snacks and sweets to games of skill (e.g. snowball throwing).  

Humanities Teacher Andrzej Matyla volunteered to be in the ‘stocks’ as pupils queued up to pay to pelt him with wet sponges – all for a good cause, especially on a winter day.

The school’s Student Council came up with the idea for the inaugural Christmas Market and first presented their idea to the Senior Leadership Team for approval then with the help of James Maddern, Assistant Principal for Personal Development, the Heads of House and Tutors helped make the market a successful reality. There are now plans to make the market an annual Christmas event. 

All the money raised went to each House’s chosen charity: 

Avebury - Helen & Douglas House  - £174.61

Barbury - Prospect Hospice  - £171.71

Kennet - Young Minds - £146.25

Stonehenge - Brighter Futures - £196.10

Whitehorse - Wiltshire Air Ambulance - £137.87

The total raised was £826.54

Jon Ward, Head of Abbey Park School, said: “It was great to see everyone getting into the Christmas spirit and I am proud of the hard work and effort that our pupils and staff have put in to make this such a success.”  

James Maddern, Assistant Principal for Personal Development, said: “Pupils and staff planned and delivered a fantastic House event. We are all very grateful to the school community for embracing and enjoying the occasion as well as raising a significant amount of money for their respective House charities.”