Christmas fayre raises more than £1,000 for Virtual School

Held outside the library at Southwater One, staff and pupils welcomed hundreds of Christmas shoppers last week.

There was a selection of handmade Christmas gifts available to buy and top prizes up for grabs in a raffle and tombola.

All the money raised will now be used to fund events for those children in care who are supported through the Virtual School.

Councillor Shirley Reynolds, Cabinet member for Children, Young People, Education, Employment and Skills, said: “A big thank you to everyone who either donated prizes for the tombola or came along to support the Virtual School’s first ever Christmas fayre.

“Many of the handmade items on sale were made by our children in care in the last couple of months, so it was lovely to see their gifts prove popular.

“All the proceeds raised at the event will be used to provide future opportunities for the children we support. 

“The festivities for the Virtual School don’t end there though. Pupils will be performing in the bandstand at the launch of the Winter Gardens in Telford Town Centre on Friday 13 December. We hope to see many people there.”

The Virtual School is a Telford & Wrekin Council service which works to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of children in care.

Michelle Salter, Virtual School Headteacher, said: “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of council staff, councillors and the public in supporting our first ever Virtual School Christmas Fayre.  Our young people supported the event, learnt further key skills and had a fantastic time.

“Thank you to the Virtual School Team which worked tirelessly with me before, during and after the event, always putting our young people first to enable them to dream, believe and achieve.”