Hartlepool United sponsor Utility Alliance helps school raise much-needed funds after touching letter from pupil

Scared Heart Primary School pupils Sofia Sweeney and Robert Coulson are presented with a Hartlepool United ball by Anthony Sweeney from Hartlepool United and Darren Sutherland from Utility Alliance. Picture by FRANK REID

Robert Coulson is a Year 6 pupil at Sacred Heart RC Primary School, and is a regular at Victoria Park to watch Hartlepool United.

Robert and his classmates were asked to get involved in fundraising ideas for the school’s Christmas Fair, which takes place on Thursday, so he wrote to Pools’ main sponsors Utility Alliance to see if they could help out.

In a letter to the firm, Robert wrote: “Each year we have a raffle to try and raise funds for the school as we desperately need new interactive whiteboards for our classrooms and new exciting resources to make our lessons fun.

A letter sent to Utility Alliance from Scared Heart Primary School pupil Robert Coulson Utility Alliance. Picture by FRANK REID

“I really enjoy going to the Hartlepool United games and I know you sponsor them. You make the kits look better and the school would really appreciate if you could send something to do with Hartlepool United.”

Utility Alliance were able to hand over a football signed by all of the Pools players, while the club’s first team coach Antony Sweeney – whose daughter Sofia is also a pupil at Sacred Heart – donated a signed shirt.

Antony joined Utility Alliance Chief Executive Darren Sutherland at the energy consultancy’s Marina HQ to meet Robert and hand over the prizes.

Ian Willis, Utility Alliance’s PR & Marketing Manager, said: “Robert went to a lot of effort to write to various people asking for donations, and we were happy to help out.

“A big thanks must go to Pools and Antony as well for their help, and we hope Robert and his classmates make as much as they can to help buy new equipment for their class.”

Sam Cook, Y6 teacher at Sacred Heart RC Primary School, added: “The raffle is a great way to raise funds for the annual Christmas Fair and it's fantastic that local businesses such as Utility Alliance and Pools have offered to help. The students enjoyed writing their letters and were ecstatic to receive replies and donated prizes towards the good cause.”