STUDENTS camped under the stars to raise much-need funds for a military charity and promote awareness about the challenges forces children face.
Twenty six children, from Years 7 to 11, and four staff took part in the Great Tommy Sleep Out on the back fields at Barnard Castle School in aid of Royal British Legion Industries, the housing and shelter arm of the RBL.
The event, part of the school’s Barney Forces Family initiative, raised £1,010 for the national charity.
The imitative has been set up to support the day-to-day lives of forces children at Barney, including those who call school home, while their parents serve their country around the globe.
Children spent the night under canvas after being shown how to pitch their tents. They were also shown by school chef and ex-warrant officer Tim Charlton how to make an improvised field oven by burying a galvanised steel bin with a bean can funnel, using bricks and foliage as camouflage, which they used to cook their pasta and garlic bread. They also toasted marshmallows over a fire pit and rigged up a makeshift cinema with a bedsheet on which they watched a movie.
The following morning they were up at 6am to decamp and pack away their equipment before heading off for a hot breakfast and into lessons.
Barnard Castle School’s Forces Pupils Lead Emma Purvis said: “It was amazing to see how much they enjoyed themselves despite the overnight cold. Next day they were shattered but were still happy to go to lessons buzzing from the experience.
“I thought the event might raise a couple of hundred pounds so was thrilled when it realised more than £1,000, thanks to the generosity of parents and families and sponsors GSC Grays and Jonathan Wallis Land and Property. Sleeping out in the cold helped them appreciate what it’s like for many veterans who face homelessness.”
Emma, of Westgate, who also teaches English at the school, joined the Army Cadets when she was 13, became an instructor at 18 and is now Regimental Sergeant Major for Cleveland Army Cadet Force.
She founded Barney Forces Family (BFF) after joining the school in 2021 to support services children. “Barney already has the most incredible sense of community but I wanted there to be an even closer community within that for the children who have a different school experience from the others.
“I am married to a soldier and know of the upheaval caused to our family when he is away from home. As an adult I can regulate my emotions, but many children find this change and disruption difficult. School is a constant and can offer a source of stability while their parents are mobile. BFF gives them a sense of belonging and it is our job to make them feel secure and supported in their school experience. It also helps our forces pupils realise they are not alone, they are with others who share their experiences and feelings.”
Samantha Mead, whose daughter Hermione attends Barnard Castle School and whose husband has been deployed for several months now, said: “The pastoral care is fabulous and the staff are very aware of the issues forces kids face as many of them have links to the armed forces themselves.
“This gives a deep level of understanding of how the children are feeling and how they can be supported. Hermione loves attending Barney and it is reassuring as a parent that she has access to such a strong and supportive Barney Forces Family network.”
Categories: Barnard Castle School School News
