Robert Price Builders’ Merchants donates books and art supplies to schools

Two primary schools in South Wales have received a hamper of supplies for the new year after winning a Christmas competition with Robert Price Builders’ Merchants.

Mount Street Infant School and Llanbedr Church in Wales School in Powys were chosen as the competition winners after submitting their festively heart-warming stories explaining what the donation would mean to their school.

The prize included a hamper of art and craft supplies and a boxset of David Walliams books, which the children were very excited about, explains Mrs Hyde from Mount Street Infant School:

“The children were overjoyed when they found out we had won the hamper of school supplies,” she said.

“They were particularly enthused about the David Walliams books – a set that many of them are familiar with reading at home.

“We work hard to encourage all pupils to have a love of stories, with our ultimate goal being for pupils to leave school being able to read for pleasure, something that these books will be great in helping us achieve.”

The aim of the competition was to offer a helping hand to schools in need. With so many schools struggling to get hold of even the most basic supplies, Marketing Manager at Robert Price, Molly Pike, explains how difficult it was to pick just two winners from the entries:

“Having worked closely with many of the schools local to our branches, we know the difficulties they face when it comes to affording ‘luxuries’ such as paints, books, easels and other supplies within their limited budgets,” she said.

“We wanted to offer a helping hand and to give the schools a chance to win supplies by telling their stories.”

With school budgets more restricted than ever, one in five teachers are reportedly using their own money to fund classroom supplies. One competition plea even read:

“Mrs. Davies, the super school secretary would order glue, coloured paper and paints for all the classes until one day, she had to break it to the pupils that they must use these art supplies sparingly as the school budget was to be cut. Staff are always looking for ways to find new equipment and accessories for their classes. They spend their evenings applying for grants and working closely with the PTA to arrange fundraising events to make up the difference in their budget and provide pupils with additional resources.”

Gavin John, teacher at Llanbedr School, describes the challenges of school budgets and the difference the prize will make to the pupils in his story submission:

“Like many other rural schools, we have a small budget to spend on supplies and therefore rely on fundraising, led by the pupils and friends of the school, to buy equipment and resources to enhance the curriculum,” he said.

“Our little elves at Llanbedr work tirelessly to raise these funds. So much of the money raised is spent on classroom luxuries such as felt pens, glitter, acrylic paints, shiny paper and construction items.

“We are very thankful to companies who offer donations. They make a huge difference to the school and every donation is valued.”