Students and staff at Norton Hill School have joined together in an expression of unity and solidarity to help raise funds to support families suffering from the extensive floods in Somerset. Students and staff chose the Friday at the end of term to attend school in Mufti, paying a small donation for the privilege. The funds raised from day amounted to a staggering £1,066!
Norton Hill School has had a long tradition ofsupporting charities within the local community. Every year, the School's Student Council select two charities to support throughout the year, however, due to the extreme situation faced by many in neighbouring Somerset, the School Council approached the school to ask whether they could offer their support by raising money for the flood affected residents on the Somerset Levels.
The school has confirmed that it will be donating the money raised at the event to the Somerset Flood Relief Fund, an appeal which has been set up by the Somerset Community Foundation (SCF). Over £660,000 has already been raised by the appeal, with many more donations literally flooding in on a daily basis, as communities surrounding Somerset rally together to help support the local people who live and work in the affected areas.
The SCF website states that the funds raised from this appeal will help to:
Provide emergency relief grants to people whose homes have been flooded or who have had to evacuate their homes.
Help those who face additional financial burdens as a result of the flooding, for example, through loss of earnings, extended daily commutes and school runs.
Support local microbusinesses, charities and community organisations to ensure their survival and swift recovery as an essential part of the local community and economy through grants and, where applicable, loans.
Support counselling and other support and community services to help people cope with the emotional stress caused by the flooding in the short and medium term.
If like Norton Hill School, you would like to help the Somerset Community Foundation by donating to their Somerset Flood Relief Fund, please visit their website at: http://www.somersetcf.org.uk">www.somersetcf.org.uk