RAIL passengers dug deep into their pockets to support Anstey Junior School’s £300,000 Let’s Build It project.

Members of the project team were on the platform at Alton Station to promote the project to build a

community room at the school.

There they met up with past pupils, families of

current pupils and residents, all about to embark on train journeys, but who were eager to learn about the project and to share in the school’s vision “to ensure that everyone in our community has the best opportunities”.

School business manager Tracie Brown said: “It was heart warming to see so many busy people giving a few moments to chat about the project, congratulate the children on their commitment, wish us well and donate.

“We would like to thank these generous commuters who donated £113.35 in loose change that morning and who also took our cards giving the link to our Let’s Build It story and donation page,” she added.

“Such a positive response from our town is very encouraging.”

Anstey Junior School’s aim is to build a room that can be used during the day for small group work and then opened up for wider community use.

Mrs Brown said: “An additional space is needed to help raise standards for those children and young people most vulnerable in the community. This includes those with behavioural, emotional and health needs and other difficulties.

“The space would benefit the whole of Alton as it would offer small rooms for one to one and group sessions together with a larger hall area to run clubs, training, talks and meetings.

”It would include a kitchen area and fully accessible toilet facilities. The room would also support Alton families by providing before and after school care.”

The project is being run by a sub-committee of the school’s very active PTA and, having set a target to start building in the summer of 2018 with between £250,000 and £300,000 in the kitty, the team has a real challenge ahead.

The school’s next fundraising event is at the Allen Gallery’s Charities Fete on Saturday 12), while one of Anstey’s “super parents”, Melissa Knight, is hoping to raise lots of money by undertaking a Slimathon.

Anstey Junior School would love to hear from anyone who would like to help with the project.

For further information and to donate visit mydonate.bt.com/charities/letsbuildit or if you would like to discuss fund raising ideas contact Tracie Brown via e-mail at: [email protected]