The gift of giving

CHILDREN at Hodge Clough Primary, Moorside, have collected lots of tinned and dried foods to donate to Oldham foodbank as part of their Harvest celebrations

YOUNGSTERS across Oldham have been helping others with their harvest collections.

And at Crompton Primary they held a harvest assembly with a difference as Year 5 pupils took part in a rap battle to highlight the plight of the homeless in Manchester.

The Longfield Road school is this year supporting Oldham-based Cold Nights.

The charity, run by volunteers, hands out warm drinks, food, socks and other donated items to those living on the streets.

Issues

Pupils watched a short film about homelessness on the streets of Manchester and the issues they face such as hunger, violence, loneliness and cold.

Head teacher Lara Beaumont said: "Cold Nights is a charity close to the hearts of staff at Crompton and we are pleased the support of our generous pupils and their families will give real support to some of those in our community who need it most."

The school also made a donation to Oldham-based charity UKEFF (UK Education & Faith Foundation), which was founded in 2009 with the aim of rebuilding communities.

The charity seeks to restore social harmony in our community by focusing on community cohesion and improved understanding between different sectors of society, be they of a religious, cultural, ethnic or socio-economic nature.

Education is one way the charity aims to make a difference but it also distributes weekly food parcels to help alleviate the distress felt by the needy in our community.

At Hodge Clough Primary School in Moorside, children collected lots of tinned and dried foods to donate to Oldham Foodbank as part of their harvest celebrations.

The school has donated regularly to the foodbank for many years since it opened in Oldham.

Head teacher Neil Cavanagh said: "A large part of our school's ethos is that children should be aware of the wider community and their role in it. Charitable events play a big role in our school life."

And at St Matthew's, pupils raised the rafters at the newly refurbished St Matthew's Church in Chadderton as they turned out in full singing voice and with arms full of food to donate this harvest festival.

Dozens of bags of food will be distributed to local foodbanks to share with the community's needy, including the Booth Centre, a day centre that offers advice, activities and support to homeless people in Manchester.

Generosity

Head teacher Martin Moore said: "Harvest is a time to give thanks and to show care and compassion, values we share at school through our school values ­- St Matthew's CARES ­- Co-operate, Aspire, Respect, Encourage and Strive. Thank you to all from our school community for their generosity this harvest festival."