Derbyshire: Spinkhill primary school Brightens Up the world for CAFOD

Children walk hand in hand through the village

Pupils from Immaculate Conception in Spinkhill, Derbyshire, dressed in their brightest clothing to raise awareness of communities across the world who cannot grow enough food this Harvest. The school held a non-school uniform day to Brighten Up the lives of children and young people across the world as part of a Harvest fundraising campaign for CAFOD.

The children were asked to dress in their brightest and boldest clothes before joining parents and teachers for a walk around the village to raise awareness of the appeal.

Rachel Heeks, Head Teacher, said: "The villagers were delighted when they saw pupils walk down the high street in their bright clothes. It truly brought a national appeal down to a local level and taught pupils about the importance of giving."

CAFOD is working with communities in the South American country of Bolivia, where in the Altiplano region, nearly 60% of the rural population are living below the poverty line. Unpredictable rains and frequent hailstorms are destroying the crops which the communities rely on.

The charity's partners are working to provide greenhouses to protect crops and train communities with new farming techniques to help them grow enough crops to feed their families. Immaculate Conception's fundraising will enable CAFOD's partners to continue working with communities like those in Bolivia.

CAFOD's representative in Spinkhill, Anne Prior, said: "Harvest fast days are a great way of bringing people together and raising an incredible amount of money to help others, so we'd like to say a huge thanks to the pupils at Immaculate Conception for their generosity.

"Harvest is traditionally a time of abundance, where communities come together and share food. In this time of abundance, it is important that we remember those who are without food and join together, putting our faith into action to help create a fairer world."

Donate to the Harvest Appeal at www.cafod.org.uk/harvest