Barnsley College students put heads together for charity

Six students on the College’s Level 3 Counselling Skills diploma course organised a series of fundraising activities over a two-week period, including a name the Easter bunny competition and a raffle for Easter hampers.

Heads Together Barnsley was established by Claire Throssell in memory of her young sons, Jack and Paul, who lost their lives in a house fire which was deliberately set by their father.

The help provided by Heads Together Barnsley ranges from helping families access grants to support with additional expenses, to signposting them to organisations which can provide specialist help and assistance.

Heads Together Barnsley has also raised £24,000 in its bid to hit a fundraising target of £30,000 for the creation of a family room within the Burns Unit at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield.

Student Heidi Fowler, of Penistone, said: “Claire is a friend of mine so I knew about Heads Together Barnsley and it was a natural choice for us to support the charity through fundraising. Initially we thought we might raise between £100 and £200 in two weeks, so to raise £440 was a real bonus. Students and staff from the College dug deep to give whatever they could and we appreciated their generosity.”

Claire Throssell, also of Penistone, added: “It is amazing for the students to raise so much money in two weeks. The Barnsley community is one of the best in the world and the support it has given me inspires me to give something back through Heads Together Barnsley. Such generosity shows how great Barnsley can be and really touches my heart.”