Fundraising efforts around the isles for Children in Need

Scalloway pupils with their raffle stall. First prize is a Pudsey cake. (From left to right: Olivia Inkster, Max Abernethy, Lauren Abernethy, Nathan Pottinger, Charlie Pottinger, Kieran Black, Kieran Hughson and Connor Umphray) Photo: Keegan Murray

It’s Children in Need time once again and people around Shetland are participating in a range of activities in order to raise money for the cause.

Today The Shetland Times has spoken to two groups who are doing their bit for the national appeal.

At the Scalloway Primary School pupils and teachers had devised a number of ways to collect donations.

Youngsters in primary one participated in a teddy bear’s picnic, all bringing in their favourite teddy bear to eat with them at lunch time. Pupils paid a small donation to bring in their cuddly toy and their efforts were rewarded with a visit from Pudsey Bear himself.

Older age groups at the school were also taking part in the fundraising activities by running stalls selling books and homebakes. A raffle was also organised featuring the very special prize of a Pudsey themed cake baked by Simon Allan of Sandwick Baking Co.

Meanwhile, pupils in primary 6 and 7 had created their own enterprise in order to raise money for a cause they have to come to care about a great deal.

After learning about India and the poverty suffered by many regions of the country during a school project older pupils at the school decided to arrange a fundraiser for an Indian orphanage on the same day as the Children in Need activities.

Sponsored walk

Also raising money for Children in Need today were four friends who decided to do a sponsored walk from Sumburgh to Lerwick, beginning at 8am in crisp and cold weather.

Marianne Jane Robertson, Lucy Saether, Amanda Smith and Caitlin Ward set out with the goal of raising £200 for the appeal via both online fundraising and buckets they carried with them on the walk.

Miss Ward, speaking after the walk was complete, said that the group had raised nearly times the amount they had originally hoped to, with donations topping £700.

She said that the group was left “shocked” by their final tally and thanked everyone who donated money, or in the case of Print Shetland and the Sandwick Baking Co. custom jumpers and bacon rolls.

• For more on Children in Need in Shetland see the November 25th edition of The Shetland Times