12 June 2002

HOSPITALS RECEIVE PUPILS' VIDEO CLEAR-OUT

BIG-hearted youngsters from a South Tyneside school have had a huge clear-out.

Pupils from Boldon School have been collecting videos they have grown out of to give to patients in the children's wards of South Tyneside District Hospital, the Freeman Hospital, and General Hospital in Newcastle.
The idea came after geography teacher Yvonne Chidley saw an advert in a newspaper asking for unwanted kids' videos for the children's heart unit at the Freeman.
Mrs Chidley, who is also deputy head of Year 10, said: "I asked the pupils throughout the school to support this appeal as part of their citizenship and work in the community efforts."
But after collecting a staggering 350 videos, Mrs Chidley decided the videos could go to three hospitals.
They chose the Freeman because it was its idea, South Tyneside District Hospital because it is the closest to the school, and Newcastle General, where Mrs Chidley's daughter Jennifer was treated when she had meningitis.
All the pupils who have taken part in the appeal will be awarded merits and a certificate for their progress files, while the most generous donors from each year will receive a £5 gift voucher.
She added: "I am extremely proud of all the children for their efforts. The target was 300, which I thought was aiming very high, but we have managed to collect even more.
"The hospitals were very pleased with the donations of more than 115 videos each for youngsters on the children's wards to watch."