Boxgrove Primary School’s Walking Track Fundraiser for Pupils and the Community

Published on: 29 Nov, 2021
Updated on: 30 Nov, 2021

Boxgrove Primary School’s Parent Teacher Association is taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2021, to raise a minimum of £8,150 in just one week.

It is for its community-focused Walk a Mile Project. Donations from the campaign, which starts Tuesday, November 30, will be used to install a weatherproof ‘walk a mile’ track so that pupils, all members of the school community and local residents can improve their fitness, health and wellbeing.

The parent teacher association of the school in Merrow says the project has been created in the wake of the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, to make sure that anyone without access to an outside space, who may live alone or may feel isolated can also have somewhere to walk or run a mile, meet new people and enjoy exercise as a community.

Donations will be generously matched by the school’s supporters and The Lakehouse Charitable Trust during the campaign.

The project is also being supported by Surrey County Councillor, Fiona Davidson (Guildford South East), who has pledged funds from her Member’s Allocation Fund.

Rebecca Stacey and Alison Fitch, headteachers of Boxgrove Primary School, said: “Lockdowns have had a huge impact on the wellbeing of our children and community.

“Our children’s centre, which had acted as community resource/hub was closed down a few years ago and our community lost a valuable exercise and activity venue. As a school who cares about our local community, we want to open our grounds to allow everyone to get outside, meet new people and enjoy exercise together.

“The Daily Mile is a nationwide initiative to encourage children and adults to benefit from walking a mile each day. It’s a fully inclusive, free, social and simple initiative which improves the physical and mental health of everyone, specifically children.

The worn track that Boxgrove Primary School aims to replace through its fundraising initiative.

“We are so lucky to have large grounds and want to open them to local people and community groups, so that we can support people, post-Covid, to be happy and healthier.

“We need to raise at least £4,075 in online donations in order to access the £4,075 we have in our match funding pot.

To support the project click here or here and make a donation from noon (midday) Tuesday, November 30. The campaign will close at noon on Tuesday, December 7.