Hosanna Primary School Support Group:

End of Year Report.

When the Hosanna Primary School Support Group was formed in January 2003, it was in response to a request from the head teacher for funding for a daily cup of porridge for each pupil. Money was raised from interested groups and individuals. In the beginning these were mainly friends, family and work colleagues. Through the years funds have increased and have come from a wider range of sources: local schools, Chipping Sodbury Baptist Church, interested groups and individuals. This in turn has enabled the Support Group to help the school in a variety of ways, including installing a water tap on site, replacing the toilets, improving existing buildings and providing new classrooms.

In 2003 there were about 200 pupils; the cost of the porridge was £100 a month. There were 8 regular donors, 3 of these being church members. By September 2007 the monthly donations were £273, providing porridge for approx 520 pupils and over 50% of those giving regular monthly donations for porridge are church members.

The school fees initiative is a direct result of the visit in November 2006. It was suggested that people may like to pay school fees for a child at Hosanna School at a cost of £9 per term. (£27 per year). Although the up take was slow at first it has really taken off. By November 2007 fees were being paid for 65 pupils. 56 out of the 65 pupils are being supported by church members. I am awaiting more names from the head teacher as several people have expressed an interest in helping in this way.

The amount of money donated by church members and organisations has increased in the last 3 years. In 2007 £1,815 has been raised by fund raising events including £563 from the Youth Group, £300 from Supper Concert and £850 from the table top sale. Many individual members of the congregation give generous donations from time to time.
Thanks to this support and that from Hobbs House Bakery, Brimsham Green School, St John’s Mead School, regular donors and others the Hosanna Primary School Support Group has been able to send £10,000 to the school this year.

As a result of the decision by church members to develop further links with Hosanna Church and School, a small group: Sue Pearce, Helen Warner, Pete Everson and Maggie Maclean have met three times to pray about the way forward. Helen Warner will present the report from this group.

Hosanna Primary School Support Group received registered charity status in September. Reg Charity No 1120997. Regular contributors who are tax payers are being asked to fill in gift aid forms. These are available by the Hosanna notice board in the foyer for anyone who has not yet received one.

The staff and pupils at Hosanna School thank all at CSBC for their financial and spiritual
support.

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Maggie Maclean 29th December 2007