Inspiring 10 year old raises cash for HARP

We were delighted to have ten year old Lily recently visit us to tell us all about her fundraising activities. She raised an incredible £150 for us, through running a cake sale at her school, West Leigh Junior School.

Kind-hearted Lily became inspired to help homeless people after her and her mum saw a homeless man in the cold near where they live. After asking permission from her mum, Lily bought this man a cup of coffee.

The church winter night shelters, which we run through a partnership with Southend council and local churches, closed last month after another successful season. Lily saw this on the news and thought that she could do something to help local homeless people.

Lily decided to run a cake sale during her break time, with the help of her friends Imogen, Scarlett and Ava. They made over 50 cupcakes and other bigger cakes, and sold them to their year 5 class mates and their teachers.

Lily was given the ’citizen of the week’ award by the school and the girls made an amazing £150, which will help us to support local people as they take steps towards a new life away from the streets.

We spoke to Lily’s Assistant Headteacher, Mrs London, she told us: “We are so proud of Lily for organising a cake sale to raise money to help homeless people in our town.”

“As a school, we host regular events to help raise awareness and funds for different causes. We also encourage our pupils to think of ways that they can get involved in charitable activities, either as individuals or in smaller groups. So, it was wonderful to see Lily use her initiative to set up a fundraising event for a great cause.

“We’d like to say thank you to all of the pupils and staff that bought cakes on the day and thank you to all of Lily’s friends that helped her to make it such a success.”

Our Chief Executive, Gill Garwood, said: “It is incredibly inspiring to see someone as young as Lily get involved in helping local homeless people. Lily and her friends should be proud of their amazing effort, which will help us to provide local people with the support, time and compassion that they need to overcome homelessness permanently.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to Lily and her friends for thinking of HARP.”