Hartlepool students ditch uniforms as they raise over £1,200 for charity

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Staff and students at English Martyrs Roman Catholic School and Sixth Form College, in Hartlepool’s Catcote Road, invited everyone to wear what they wanted for a day to raise money for charity.

The optional day was held on Friday, May 7, and saw the majority of staff and students pay the suggested donation of £1 to raise a total of £1,250 for the Youth Ministry Team (YMT).

YMT has been helping young people from across the North East reach their full potential by communicating the Gospel using various creative methods.

YMT Gap Year Team, back row, Sarah Kime, Chloe Gallagher and Hannah Bartlett and EMS students, front row, Leon Bates, Finley McGeorge, William Anderson, Violet Parkinson, Gabby Boagey and Izzy Atkinson. Photo: The English Martyrs Catholic School and Sixth Form College

In 2010, their home, the Emmaus Youth Village, was opened in Consett by North-East television celebrities Ant & Dec.

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English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College chaplain Anne Marie McKenna said: “We have a long-standing tradition of working with and supporting our Diocesan Youth Ministry Team.“

“We are delighted to have been able to have a non-uniform day to help YMT and the re-opening of the Youth Village following the pandemic.”

“We very much look forward to being able to take students back up to the Youth Village soon and welcome YMT back into our school community.”

Tony Lawless, director of youth ministry at the diocese, welcomed the donation and added: “On behalf of all at YMT, we would like to thank English Martyrs for their fantastic fundraising efforts.”

Alongside the main staff, gap year team members join annually and volunteer to give up a year of their time in service to the Church and the young people of the diocese.

Hannah Bartlett, one of this year’s gap team members, said: “YMT provides so many amazing opportunities to young people throughout the diocese and fundraising efforts play a huge part in allowing this to happen.”

“It is a privilege to work alongside such supportive school communities and we can’t thank everyone at English Martyrs enough.”

If you would like to support the work of YMT, text YOUTH (+amount) to 70500.

All donations will go to supporting the young people of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.

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