Kind-hearted sixth formers from Hellesdon High School have boosted a local charity by taking part in a sponsored walk.

The entire year group took part in the walk which started and finished at Norwich Cathedral and included a lap of the lake at Whitlingham Country Park as part of the total 11km they covered for the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

Students walked in small groups and some carried buckets to collect money along the way and they were met by volunteers from the air ambulance cheering them on with pom poms. 

The sixth form runs the Hellesdon Community Project (HCP) which has its roots in the former National Citizen Service programme which is no longer government funded.

“We always encourage students to get involved in charity events”

“Our own HCP is for the new Year 12s to learn leadership skills, participate in team work and give something back to the community as a way of furthering their enrichment,” said Sabrina Woodhouse, Sixth Form Coordinator.

“This year the walk was decided by Richard Taylor, Director of Sixth Form and Elisabeth Kelleway, Head of Year. We wanted to keep the charity a local one so the students voted from three and the East Anglian Air Ambulance was the top one,” she added.

To continue with the HCP, all of the year group are organising fundraising events over the last week of term within the school community.

“As a Sixth Form we always encourage students to get involved in charity events, especially through the HCP. ‘Giving something back’ is immensely rewarding for students while also enabling them to develop the soft skills employers like; teamwork, communication, problem solving, not to mention resilience and grit! It was 11km after all,” said Mr Taylor.

A group of students will be visiting the Norwich base of the EAAA to present a cheque for £1,357.56.