Woolly winter fundraiser at Newcastle primary

Staff and children arrived at St Catherine’s Catholic Primary in Sandyford dressed in a wide array of colourful and sparkling knitwear for Christmas Jumper Day, hoping to raise more than £100 for Save the Children’s annual appeal.

Friends and family were also invited to join in the fundraising fun at the school, which is part of the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust.

“All our children and staff participated in the day,” said Fiona Craggs, who is Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Lead and Nursery Teacher at St Catherine’s and helped to arrange the event.

“We celebrate it as part of our Catholic ethos in supporting families and the community. Our children all feel part of the school community by coming into school in their Christmas jumpers, and we invite parents in at the end of the day to sing carols around the tree and think about the importance of Christmas.”

Christmas Jumper Day first took place in 2012, and has raised more than £30 million for children across the UK and worldwide since it began.

In 2023, 1.5 million schoolchildren and teachers, and 27,000 workplaces, helped to raise £3 million for the cause.

St Catherine’s is already planning ahead for next year’s event – and encouraging an eco approach to the fundraising.

“As part of our commitment to sustainability, we are asking our families to bring their Christmas jumpers to school in January for a Christmas jumper swap, so they are ready to recognise the importance of Christmas Jumper Day again next year,” added Mrs Craggs.