WALMSLEY C.E. SCHOOL BLACKBURN ROAD, EGERTON, BOLTON BL7 9SA TELEPHONE: 01204 332650 FAX: 01204 332651
Email: office@walmsley.bolton.sch.uk HEADTEACHER: MRS. DEBRA CARR Dear Parents/Guardians, As many of you know, during Lent, we collect money to support charities. This year, as Ash Wednesday fell during half term (18th February), we will start our fundraising activities this week. We will be supporting two local charities, as well as giving a donation to Comic Relief.
Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary Bleakholt is one of the largest of its kind in the North West of England. It was started by a very kind lady, Olive Lomas, who saved a lucky donkey named Maudie from being killed. Ms Lomas’ hard work and commitment continued, and she began to look after horses, dogs and cats who had no one to care for them. In 1957, the project moved on to Bleakholt Farm, where there was space to care for more animals, though they often had to make do with leaky wooden buildings and old, disused railway carriages for the animal’s shelter. Today, the site has grown to 55 acres, and cares for over 450 dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, donkeys and goats, all of whom have no one else to protect them. It relies completely on donations and volunteer support, and has a policy to ‘care for those who have no-one’.
Birtenshaw School Birtenshaw is a charity which was established in 1954 by a group of Bolton parents in order to set up a special school for children with cerebral palsy. Today Birtenshaw provides a range of services for children and young people with severe learning disabilities, Autistic Spectrum Conditions, significant physical disabilities or complex health needs. Until recently, provision at the school has stopped at 19 years of age. However, in September 2014 Birtenshaw opened a new special Further Education College. The college plans to provide functional and vocational courses which will include a structured programme offering development of independent living skills, basic literacy and numeracy, work based vocational skills and therapeutic learning activities. We hope you will agree that both of these local charities are incredibly deserving, and wonderful causes for us to support this Lent. Please get out your diaries and calendars as there are lots of dates to remember!
During this week, all children in the Juniors (KS2) will make an ‘animal money box’ in which to collect ‘loose change’ for our ‘Spare Change Challenge’! During Lent, the children can put change in, and try to fill their boxes with 1p, 2p, 5p or 10p… and then return it to school during the final week of the term (week beginning Monday 23rd March)