Hero hailed after helping homeless

Mather Street Primary School held a special assembly for Olivia Westlake who has been helping the homeless. Back, from left, headteacher Sally Brown, parents Ben Westlake and Claire Westlake, and Mark Baxendale from Streets Ahead. Front, from left, George, Olivia and Jamie Westlake

A FAILSWORTH school has rallied round one of its pupils who has been on a mission to help homeless people in Manchester.

Mather Street Primary School held a special assembly to honour the efforts of six-year-old Olivia Westlake, at which they collected items that would be of use to the rough sleepers, plus a £150 donation that the children raised with a non-uniform day to go towards buying essential items.

Olivia, who has five brothers and sisters, gave out parcels of food and bottled water to homeless people with the help of her parents in October.

The caring schoolgirl was distressed to learn that people were living on the city's streets and decided to do something about it.

The Newton Heath youngster launched her own campaign to help the city's homeless and asked her parents to help her give out food, blankets and even home-made cupcakes.

Since her story went viral, Olivia's family has teamed up with Streets Ahead, based in Chadderton.

The volunteer group, which helps the rough sleepers of Manchester, contacted the family, who will now be working together.

Dad Ben Westlake is going out with them on Sunday and Olivia hopes she will be able to help out over the Christmas holidays.

Mum Claire Westlake said: "It was amazing. We didn't realise they had collected so much until we walked into the assembly hall.

"Olivia is a lovely little soul. We're so very proud of her."

Head teacher Sally Brown added: "I am really proud of Olivia because it was her idea to help the homeless. She knows that she is lucky because she has a nice house and lives with her family that love her.

"The Streets Ahead volunteer group let Olivia help them distribute the donations to the homeless and we like to support local charities or groups when we are fundraising."