Politics

Pupil raises £5,000 for guide dog charity at school bake sale

A Birmingham schoolboy has raised £5,000 selling homemade cakes and jam to teachers and classmates.

Benjamin Sheard, a year 7 pupil at Erdington academy, sold the baked goods to raise funds for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

Ben with Sinclair the dog

Benjamin, who made the cakes at home with his mum Emma and five-year-old brother Jimmy, started baking after his grandad Jim died eight years ago. He donates the proceeds to a different charity each year in memory of Jim.

Staff at the academy have been keen to support the 12-year-old with his fundraising. As Erdington’s assistant headteacher Liz Cross says: “We want all pupils to pursue causes they feel are important.”

Andy Bird, chief executive of Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust, which runs Erdington academy, praised the pupil’s entrepreneurial skills.

“We are proud to have a pupil like Benjamin at Erdington. He is a prime example of how to develop skills that we want all our pupils to learn.

“His charity work is a real reminder to us all about the importance of family. We hope he will inspire others.”

About £5 supports a working guide dog for a day, but Benjamin’s £5,000 will cover a year’s puppy walking.  Miles Northwood, fundraising development officer from Guide Dogs for the Blind, said: “We rely on donations to continue our life-changing work. Every pound raised makes a difference to people living with sight loss. As a guide dog owner myself I know the amazing difference a guide dog can make to someone’s life and would really like to thank the Sheard family for their fundraising efforts.”

 

Main: Sue Bushell from Guide Dogs for the Blind with Benjamin and Sinclair

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