Buxton college students cheer up elderly and raise more than £2,000 in festive mission

To celebrate its fundraising success, Buxton and Leek College released a Christmas video featuring students and staff looking merry and festive, while sticking to their ‘social baubles’.

The start of the video showcased the singing of 17-year-old Tori Davies from Leek, a public services student who coverered Keane’s song ‘Somewhere Only We Know’.

This excerpt was taken from a full virtual Christmas concert delivered by the public services students, which was sent to more than 25 care homes across Buxton, Chapel and Leek.

This year, the college chose a number of charities to support, raising more than £2,000 during the Christmas period.

The enrichment team raised £590 with its ‘Reindeer Rush’ sponsored walks – with donations going to East Cheshire Hospice.

Meanwhile, the public services students’ 24-hour Run, Ride, Row event raised an impressive £826, with funds collected going to Blind Veterans UK.

A total of £290 was raised for Christie’s Wishes, with students and staff buying stars and writing their wishes on them to hang on the college Christmas trees.

A donation of £500 was also raised by the Foundation Learning Group through a sale of Christmas decorations and goods they handmade themselves. Their chosen charities were Leek Food Bank and The Salvation Army.

Other charitable activities included the virtual Christmas concert, which provided entertainment for many elderly in care homes in the area, along with a Christmas card appeal.

The appeal encouraged students to make handmade cards for elderly people in the community who may be lonely.

On top of all this, level two hair students provided dozens of Christmas parcels for donation to refuge charity Glow, while the Buxton and Leek College ‘Raise and Give’ group held a food bank appeal for the Residents of Fairfield Association.

To view the college Christmas video round-up, visit www.facebook.com/BuxtonLeek/videos/108129324421433.