Sponsored silence speaks volumes

Pupils at Cansfield High School took part in The Big Hush, which generated over £3,600 for The Brick, a homelessness support project based in Wigan town centre.

At the start of the new academic year in September, the Ashton school parliament’s charity committee sat to decide which charities it could support and raise funds for, through the year.

And it was decided that Year 7 would support the borough’s homeless.

As a result, students took part in The Big Hush, a sponsored silence which took place over the course of two lessons.

Signs were placed on classroom doors to make teachers aware that their pupils would be taking part in the big hush, and youngsters who wanted to take part in the quiet fund-raiser were given small whiteboards to take into class, so that they could still answer questions and engage with activities.

Their efforts raised an amazing £3,636.

The committee decided to give their fund-raising to the Rebuilding Lives Campaign at The Brick which is working to raise £75,000 to make sure no one in the community is left behind.

The Brick’s fund-raising and business engagement manager, Janet Mitchell, was presented with a good old-fashioned giant cheque by pupils at the school.

Among those doing so was student Morgan Young who managed to raise an impressive £135 all by herself.

Lisa Rothwell said: “The Brick were absolutely over the moon. They were thoroughly delighted that we had chosen to support them.

“They said it would make a massive difference.”

Mrs Rothwell added: “As a school, we are incredibly proud and grateful to both our students and their families for the generous support they have given us with our charity work.

“We would like to thank everybody who has contributed to this event.”

She added: “The teachers were amazed at their generosity and how seriously they took it.

“They are very mature, very giving children.”