COMMONWEAL School staff have been set up to score in their bid to raise money for a charity that helps grieving parents.

A football signed by the Swindon Town FC team has been donated to the charity auction at the annual cabaret.

The event, first staged in 2011, is in aid of both the Swindon branch of Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity and former student Louise Hunt’s bid to represent the country at tennis in the Rio Paralympics.

“I am sure the football will raise a lot of money, said Ali Sutcliffe Head of Performing Arts, who was delighted with the donation. “Last year we raised over £2000 for charity and we hope to get more than that this year. Most of the money is raised through the auction.”

A club spokesman said: “It was a pleasure to provide a signed football for Commonweal School. Alongside their great work for Swindon SANDS, we are delighted to help out a partner of our Football in the Community Trust who have recently launched their C6 programme at the school.”

The school’s head of Music Kirsty Driver has personal reason for supporting the cabaret. In 2010 she and her husband were devastated by the loss of their daughter Isobel five days before she was due to be born.

“When she was born the midwife at the hospital gave me a box full of things that I will cherish forever.

“I was given a lock of her hair, hand and foot casts, lots of photos, a blanket that they had wrapped her up in, her hospital bands, a card and two teddies. One teddy was buried with Izzy and the other is in her memory box at home.”

She said: “I soon learnt that this box was given to me by Swindon Sands. I didn’t look in the box for a week or so because it was so painful. But when I felt ready I held the beautiful knitted blanket and teddy whilst reading the information from Swindon Sands.

“From their words I grew enough confidence to attend a meeting, and from there I have found new friendships and support from other parents who truly understand how we were feeling at that dark time.”

She added: “Without Sands I would have been so lost in those first few months, and I have leant on them for support ever since.

“Swindon Sands is the most fantastic group of caring people I have ever come across and the work they do is priceless for those who go through the heartbreak of losing a child.”

Commonweal is looking for companies to donate prizes to the auction. Email Ali Sutcliffe at asutcliffe@commonweal.co.uk for information.