Colyton Grammar School students collect over 1,000 items for the Exeter Foodbank charity

Students at Colyton Grammar School have collected over 1,000 items for the Exeter Foodbank charity.

Physics teacher Louise Fitzhenry’s tutor group - 10 Ash - first started collecting donations for the cause in 2009, and since then other groups from Ash House have taken up the challenge.

The Foodbank provides emergency supplies to disadvantaged families and individuals living in the Exeter area, supporting those who are “one bill away from disaster”, explained Mrs Fitzhenry.

She said that working for the foodbank each year had created “a real sense of unity” within tutor groups, allowing students to get actively involved in working for the charity.

Exeter Foodbank is part of a network of over 200 foodbanks across the UK. Non-perishable foods such as UHT milk, cereals, and pasta are collected, stored and sorted by volunteers and people in need are issued with vouchers for which they are given a three-day supply.

Student Amy Elford stressed how she felt it was “important to support everyone”, and donating to the foodbank is one small way that students in the school can help people who are struggling.