The school community collected a large quantity of food and essential items ahead of the charity’s upcoming Sleep Out 26 event.
The sponsored Sleep Out 26 is due to take place at Lawn Manor Academy on Thursday 20 February.
In the lead-up to the event, pupils from all year groups were set a house challenge to fill a trolley with food and toiletries.
The three houses – Fitzroy, Pleydell and Goddard – competed to gather the most donations.
By the end of the challenge, three trolleys were filled with essential supplies for people experiencing homelessness in Swindon.
The initiative formed part of lessons focused on homelessness and the challenges faced by people without stable accommodation.
Pupils also learned about the work of Threshold and how the charity supports individuals to rebuild their lives.
Rachel Harris, Fundraising and Communications Manager at Threshold, said:
“It is fantastic to see how the pupils have pulled out all the stops to make a difference, we are astonished and extremely grateful for the abundance of items they have donated.
Providing basic essentials like food and toiletries takes a huge amount of pressure off people who have been homeless, so that they can focus their strength on recovering and working on the complex issues that so many of them face.
After years of feeling rejected by society, their belief in community can be rekindled by the eagerness of these young people to help. Thank you so much to the house teams, your kindness is absolutely heartwarming.”
Russell Langdown, Head of School at Lawn Manor Academy, said:
“We are incredibly proud of our pupils for the compassion and generosity they have shown, with three trolleys overflowing with food and toiletries.
“Through their learning, our pupils have developed a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness locally, and they were motivated to make a tangible difference.
The response from Pleydell, Goddard and Fitzroy has been fantastic, and we are grateful to our school community for coming together to support Threshold and the vital work they do.”
The donated items will now be distributed to residents being supported by Threshold as they move away from homelessness.
The charity has worked in Swindon for more than 50 years, providing safe accommodation for up to two years while residents prepare to become tenancy ready and regain independence.
Sleep Out 26 is open to anyone aged 11 and above.
Registration costs £7.50 for children and £15 for adults, with participants encouraged to raise further sponsorship to support the charity’s work.
The event has been backed by a £1,000 grant from Places for People.
Local organisations, including Village Hotel Swindon, Gel Studios and Rapid Relief Team UK, will provide hot and cold refreshments on the night.
This means all ticket sales and sponsorship raised can go directly towards supporting people experiencing homelessness in Swindon.
Lawn Manor Academy is part of Ascend Learning Trust.
The trust says its mission includes creating a strong sense of belonging and delivering a holistic education to prepare young people for the future.
