Christ College Brecon has donated more than 500 items to its local food bank as part of its inaugural ‘Giving Day’.

The occasion, which looks set to become a firm date in the school’s calendar, took place on Friday 5 May with children, parents, the faculty and the wider school community coming together to complete challenges and raise funds for the Christ College Brecon Foundation alongside donating to Brecon Foodbank. The Foundation supports students’ bursaries and scholarships, with donations also going towards the Chapel and Heritage Fund and Pavilion Fund.

A Giving Day is a 24-hour fundraising event that brings a community together to raise donations in a limited period of time and is becoming an increasingly popular way of fundraising in schools and universities because of the collective community effort it instils. Individuals and groups can set challenges that encourage donors to support the cause and when the challenges are complete, advance pledges of funding are ‘unlocked’.

Martyn Thomas MBE, development director at Christ College Brecon, said: “Thanks to generous pledges for matched funding from Old Breconians and parents, we were able to set up challenges that gave us the opportunity to boost our fundraising.

“One challenge set by a donor was to collect 500 items for the Brecon Foodbank which our youngest pupils championed and encouraged the whole school to donate. We collected well in excess of 500 items and delivered the donations to Brecon Foodbank this week (9 May).

“Thank you to everyone who got involved with our Giving Day, either by setting or completing challenges or by donating their time or money. It was hugely successful, raising £25,000 for the Foundation which will ensure we are able to continue offering bursaries and scholarships and protect our heritage.”

To find out more about the Giving Day visit www.ccbgivingday.com or www.ccbcommunity.co.uk/news/school-news/135/135-What-is-Giving-Day