Yealand primary school launches online promise auction to raise money to help keep their minibus running

Schoolchildren at Yealand C of E Primary school next to their minibus which costs £1000 a year to run. The school is holding an online promise auction to raise money to keep their minibus running.

Robins class drew up a letter that they emailed and sent out to local businesses and some larger well-known businesses.

The schoolchildren have had auction items donated from Liberty London and Hamleys London, amongst other well known businesses and companies.

Judith Riley, business support manager at the school said: "We were delighted to receive a response from Liberty London who answered our call and supplied us with a box full of treats and a super email to the children, we also have been sent teddy bears from Hamleys London, dinner, bed and breakfast at The Netherwood Hotel and animal experiences from South Lakes Safari Zoo.

One of the prizes donated by Liberty London for the Yealand C of E School online promise auction which aims to raise money to keep the school minibus running.

"In total now our auction has over 40 lots listed from homemade cakes to an Apple iPad Pro 2020.

"We have listed the auction on our Nursery Facebook page - LittleOwlsNursery and shared it on our school Facebook (yealand church of england primary school)page to encourage people to browse and bid.

"The auction runs online until November 30, and winning bidders will then be contacted from December 1-4.

"We are also in the process of coming up with a PDF document of it so anyone who does not use social media could be emailed the catalogue."

One of the prizes donated for the Yealand C of E School online promise auction which aims to raise money to keep the school minibus running.

Ian Hunt of Liberty London said in his response to the children: "Thanks you for your wonderful letter addressed to "The Boss of Liberty London" - it really made me smile and made my team in the post room giggle a lot!

"I was thrilled to hear the news that you are back in school now and getting to see your friends after a crazy 2020 - I heard your mums and dads are quite pleased too!

"Given you are all the way up in lovely Carnforth and we're down here in smelly old London I think it might be a be a bit far for Miss Riley to have to come to see us so I've asked my friends at DPD to drop some Liberty goodies off to you in the next few days.

"Hopefully you can include them in the promise auction and keep that minibus running.

"Good luck with your fundraising, remember to stay safe and when you are allowed to come down to London please pop by and say hi!"

The Robins class letter said: "This year has been very different for us and due to restrictions we have not been able to hold our Easter fundraising activities and summer fair.

"To keep our school minibus running it costs us approximately £1000 a year so we holding a promise auction and have invited our parents and the local community to bid for items to help us raise money so we can continue to use our minibus."

Little Owls Nursery said on their Facebook page: "The auction is open until November 30, all proceeds will go to the school fund to help us keep our school mini bus running.

"Have a browse through the album and if you see something you like either message us via the Little Owls Nursery page or email us at admin@yealand.lancs.sch.uk with your bid.

"Once the auction closes winning bidders will be notified by email/message with payment and collection details.

"School staff have placed their bids in sealed envelopes before the auction went live and we will ask an independent witness to open the envelopes at the close of the auction to ensure the bidding is fair to all.

"Please feel free to contact the school if you have any questions about any of the items listed by telephoning 01524 781360."