Students cheque in to prove how much they care (From Swindon Advertiser)

Swindon students raise cash for carers centre

2:40pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in News

STUDENTS at Swindon Academy have presented a cheque to a local charity which provides help and support to 15,000 carers in the town.

Diana Finch, CEO of Swindon Carers Centre, received the cheque from members of the academy’s student council.

They helped raise £376.04 through a no school uniform day during which they asked students to come to school dressed in their pyjamas. They boosted the fund with cake sales.

Charley French, 12, said: “We chose to support Swindon Carer’s Centre because we wanted something local and personal. We all have friends who are carers and I care for my nan who is deaf and blind. We wanted to raise as much as possible, we didn’t set a target or anything.”

Charley was joined by Tyler Lewis, 16, Bethany Lane, 13, Zoe Stephenson, 11, and Chloe Dunne, 15, to present the cheque to Diana on behalf of the school.

“We are absolutely thrilled with the donation,” she said.

“We’ve had an ongoing relationship for a couple of years with the school, helping develop their awareness of young carers.

“We just always need money, especially with all the cutbacks in funding from the local authority. I expect the money will go towards our Benefits Advice which is completely reliant on donations.

“Carers are often carrying a very heavy burden with very little recognition. And also, they don’t always view themselves as a carer. They say ‘well of course I’ll care for them, they’re my father, mother, husband and so on. They don’t realise that maybe there is someone there that can help them and we want to raise awareness for that reason.”

For more information visit www.swindoncarers.org.uk.