Schoolchildren Get Creative During Pandemic

Bentham Primary School were awarded an important grant from Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust’s Coronavirus Community Fund to ensure children and staff remained connected and creative during the pandemic.

140 students received a Grow Your Own Activity Kit over the summer which enabled them to grow various seeds and learn about plants, flowers and gardening.

The packs were delivered by staff at the rural primary school at the start of the summer holidays, allowing them to maintain their connection with their pupils.

Claire Pearson, Headteacher at Bentham CP School, said:
“The pandemic has been hard on everyone and particularly young school children who would have been interacting with their friends on a daily basis as well as learning within the school environment.

“Our parents and guardians have done a wonderful job in home-schooling but we wanted to ensure the students would continue to be connected to the school when it was closed for the summer holidays.

“The packs meant they could learn about their environment in a fun way, but also maintain contact with the school at such an uncertain time.

“We are really grateful to YDMT for their support – and the feedback from families has been great!”

YDMT Coronavirus Community Fund has helped more than 20 organisations and groups across the Dales continue to provide vital services during the pandemic.

Since it was launched at the beginning of May, close to £42,000 has been awarded to groups who are making a difference to their health and wellbeing of their communities.

The Fund, which is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, is a partnership between Two Ridings Community Foundation and Cumbria Community Foundation.

Its focus is to help people through this unprecedented time to deal with emergency issues as a result of the continuing threat of coronavirus.

Michaela Brennan, YDMT project officer, added:
“Young people have been particularly hard hit during the pandemic, with a huge disruption to their education and social networks when schools were closed.

“We were pleased to support this project which kept young people in contact with their school and provided a fun free educational activity over the summer.

“Thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, Two Ridings Community Foundation and Cumbria Community Foundation we still have funding available for projects that support health and wellbeing, social isolation and loneliness as a result of Coronavirus. Please get in touch if you are part of a community group making a difference in this difficult time.”

For more information please contact YDMT on 015242 51002, email info@ydmt.org or head to ydmt.org to download an application form and guidance notes.