In September, the supermarket chain, ASDA launched a “Cashpot for Schools” initiative in which it pledged to donate 0.5% of the value of a customer's shopping to a primary school of that customer's choice. The Friends of Bishop Monkton School (FOBMS) enrolled in the scheme and are pleased to announce that, thanks to the support of parents, their relatives, friends of the school and villagers, an amount of £118.39 was raised.

The scheme ran for two months and although the overall total has not yet been counted, just a few days before the end of November, when the scheme was due to close, £5.1 million had been raised. ASDA automatically donated £50 to every school that enrolled in the scheme.

Vic Porter, chair of FOBMS, said “This is really fantastic and we just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated their points”.

This scheme was launched in response to concerns over a lack of funding to schools which impacts learning and stretches school budgets to the limit. Funds raised by FOBMS now cover the purchase of new reading books in school, workshops for the children, new tables and chairs and much much more. Monies raised by similar fund raising organisations in schools throughout the country help pay, as an example, for school trips, learning materials and sports equipment.