THIS week Commonweal School has been running a fundraising week to raise money for refugees with all the funds going to charities that help refugees coming from Syria, and other war torn, tragedy stricken places.

“The on-going conflict in Syria has caused the largest humanitarian crisis in living memory," said Louisa Forrester, deputy head of sixth form at Commonweal.

"Every day more than eight million children face grave threats to their lives because they lack food, clean water, homes, schools and often parents.

"Imagine if our lives were in danger through war or natural disasters. Imagine fleeing from your home with most of your belongings and pets left behind. Imagine being cold, hungry and separated from your loved ones. Imagine climbing into a tiny boat or a crowded lorry and travelling thousands of miles and not knowing quite what to expect IF you got there safe and alive.

"Imagine being that scared, that desperate. Terrifying isn’t it. Welcome to the world of refugees."

The idea to hold a fundraising week for refugees came from Allie Evans one of the school's Year 10 students.

"She suggested we should 'do something' and fundraise for the charities supporting these children," said Louisa.

She and some friends got together to plan the fundraising week of activities to support Unicef.

The students have been told that the UK government will double all donations made to Unicef's Syria Winter appeal between October 29, 2015 and February, 29, 2016.

“I want to help because I can’t imagine the pain and tragedy they are going through," said Allie.

"We hope to raise about £1,000 during the week - the refugees are suffering and we have the resources to help them.”

Commonweal School will be working with Unicef’s The Syria Winter Appeal, Recycle4charity’s Refugee Action, Medecins Sans Frontieres Doctors Without Borders, and the local Harbour Project.

Activities for the week included a cake sale held during lunchtime where students and staff could buy cakes for under £1. A total of £130 was raised.

On Tuesday staff, students and the public were encouraged to donate empty toner inkjet cartridges. This will be an on-going project at the school. The day also marked the start of a competition for artists in the school to design a poster to raise awareness for the refugees.

Students were also collecting bedding, pots, pans and crockery for The Harbour Project in Swindon.

On Wednesday youngsters were asked to think of ways to help via sponsorship with suggestions that included staying silent for all or part of the day, wearing a funny costume, speak in a funny accent for the day, run laps of the field at lunchtime or take part in a 24 hour phone amnesty where mobile phones will remain locked in the school safe.

Staff also joined in by attempting to cycle the distance of the Channel Crossing as many times as possible on a static bike, an idea that came from Commonweal receptionist Lizzy Clarke, a former student at the school.

On Thursday pop group Wrong Direction, made up of members of staff have arranged a further screening of their hit single video.

There will also a stage performance from EUROPA from Year 11 and a few other acts. Commonweal Performing Arts Technician Nick Weaver has written a song, ‘Everyone Has The Right To Life,’ which sings of the plight of the Syrian refugees and he was accompanied by Louie and Billy Hughes on backing vocals. The song was also turned in to a video with powerful images from war torn Syria.

On the week will end with students being permitted to wear non – uniform clothes provided they donate £1.

PANEL

• More than eight million refugee children are in danger – facing threats to their lives

• They have no clean water and no food

• Fleeing from wars and disasters, many children have lost their mum and dad, their home and their school.

• They are living in makeshift shelters – not enough clothing or protection from winter

• There is a risk of hypothermia, pneumonia and other deadly diseases

• Displaced families fled Syria with just the clothes on their back

Song written by Nick Weaver and performed by Billy and Louie Hughes

Everybody got the right to life,

Everybody got the right to live,

Everybody got a heart of love they long to give

We’re all on a journey, to find a home

We all got a story, that needs to be told

And from every corner, we sing the same song,

A little love goes a long way, to help us all along.

We all play a heartbeat, that’s given at birth,

We all need the water, from the mother earth

We all eat the good fruit, that nature provides,

Give a gift to a stranger, it doesn’t cost a thing to smile!

Every morning I wake up, eyes greet the day,

My Head on my pillow, I hear a small voice say,

“Don’t be downhearted, get up and get started,

Put your feet in your boots, and lets go marching!