Bassaleg School Pupil Council Testimonial

Bassaleg school have been working with Lepra for over 30 years raising over £28,000.

Like so many schools across the country we are incredibly grateful for all their support and it is lovely to hear how enthusiastic the pupils are at coming up with so many creative ideas to support Lepra.

In 2023, Bassaleg's pupil council took the reins and with their year group, the Year 7 students developed their own exciting fundraising plans which included:

• Moving 2023 km to match the year 2023!
• Holding a one day lunchtime fundraiser to include a football match, bake sale, lucky dips, raffle and more! 
• A day where pupils wear different colour shoes and gloves to represent the areas affected by leprosy - hands and feet.

Here at Lepra it is always so nice to see the pupils getting really creative and engaged in this project – working as a year group to raise funds and support people affected by leprosy in India and Bangladesh.

Following their Lepra fundraising event we asked Bassaleg Pupil Council some questions about their fundraising journey and we had the following response from 3 members of the Pupil Council:

Question: Why did you decide to support people affected by leprosy?

Student 1:          Because leprosy affects a lot of people I wanted to save them

Student 2:          Bassaleg School decided to help people with leprosy because we have been doing it for a long time and it is a cause dear to us. It means we get the opportunity to help those we can as well as spread awareness to others about this forgotten disease so they can help too.

Student 3:           I decided to help to support people affected by leprosy because I could step in and help them with their illness that they have to deal with everyday.

Question: What have you enjoyed most about your schools fundraising experience with Lepra?

Student 1:          I have most enjoyed the laps around the tennis courts because it was fun.

Student 2:          The thing I have enjoyed most about our school fundraising with Lepra is the enthusiasm everyone has when they are walking that they get to help a good cause.

Student 3:          I have enjoyed mostly learning about leprosy and having a better understanding on what people affected by it go through on a day to day basis.

Question: What have you learnt from this overall experience?

Student 1:          Leprosy is a very bad thing to catch but enough research then we could save them.

Student 2:          From this experience I have learnt more about the world around me and gain an understanding of the different problems that are happening around the world and how if we work together we can all help each other and try to fix any problems.

Student 3:          I have learnt from this experience not to think that you are a bad person or struggling because there is always someone else who is dealing with something worst than you.

Question: What would you say to other pupil councils and schools who would like to help people affected by leprosy?

Student 1:          Try and fundraise as much as you can because they will be very appreciative about it.

Student 2:          For other school councils that would like to help leprosy I would advise them to get involved and help this great cause.

Student 3:          I would say to them to discover it first and understand what it is. But also try and do some fundraising that can help those who struggle.