House! Leanne’s number comes up for makeover
Parents arrange DIY prom after school’s axe
ABINGO player and single mother has won a home makeover competition, while playing at her local Mecca Bingo.
Leanne Fletcher won the prize during a game last year after calling house on the number 41.
She was informed that she had not only won £ 1,000, but was also the only customer across the nation to have won a unique house makeover in the club.
She moved into her home in Rochdale two years ago along with her three young daughters, but had to stop work to care for her youngest.
It has meant that minimal renovations have been able to be completed at her home in recent times.
Leanne was playing with her mother and aunt the day she won the house makeover and called her daughters straight away to let them know about the good news.
The 38- year- old said: “I have loved playing at Mecca Bingo for years.
“So when I called house and I got told that I was going home with both £1,000 and a house makeover, I simply could not believe it.
“It took me about two weeks to fully realise what was happening and what this meant for me and my girls.
“Nothing like this has ever happened to me!”
“Leanne loves her daughters and is very proud of them, so we were happy to know that this makeover is bringing her the chance to treat her girls”
Leanne added: “My girls are my whole world and being able to offer them a room makeover truly means everything to me.
“Especially as the makeover took place on my daughter’s 11th birthday.”
Leanne’s home makeover transformed her dining room and her daughters’ two bedrooms.
The new look added colour, furniture and personal touches to match the girls’ tastes.
Both of Leanne daughters helped to bring the transformations to life in their own bedrooms.
Carol Rhead, Head of Marketing Venues, said: “We love seeing our customers play and interact with one another at Mecca Bingo clubs across the UK.
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“Having these kinds of promotions running both in club and online allows for the fun and joy of winning to be spread on a wider level.
We are thrilled about Leanne’s win.
“This is a unique and truly life changing competition and we couldn’t be happier to bring some additional joy to our customers.
“Leanne loves her daughters and is very proud of them, so we were happy to know that this makeover is bringing her the chance to treat her girls and make their home even more special.”
A GROUP of Year 11 parents have taken it upon themselves to organise their own end-of-year Prom, after the school decided against holding the event for ‘financial reasons’.
Newhouse Academy in Heywood said no arrangements had been made and no venue had been booked for the traditional Year 11 celebration, but have instead decided to host an in-house ‘leavers’ celebration’.
However, a group of parents set up ‘Newhouse
Academy Parents do Prom 2022’ and have booked The Birch Hotel for their own Prom on July 7.
They have also secured donations to help to put the event on from local businesses such as Laura’s Quality Sandwiches, Sam’s Hub Cupcakes and Acts of
Kindness Heywood - as well as through a fundraising page.
The group say the cost of the event would be £20 per child, but costs will be covered for those who cannot afford to go.
Rachel Cass, who set up the parents’ group alongside Emma Collins, said: “Our children during the last two years have suffered enough.
“The children have gone through enough change in their lives not forgetting even a school name change from Siddal Moor to Newhouse Academy.
“Our children feel this is a cruel blow and right in the middle of mock exams as they prepare for the biggest exams in their lives.
“Well in true Heywood spirit we as parents and carers couldn’t stand back and do nothing.”
Newhouse Academy Headteacher Mr Alex Burnham said there had never been any formal communication about a Prom to students or their families and the decision was made in light of the ‘current financial climate’.
He said: “The decision we made in not hosting a Prom was a hard one, but after careful consideration of the current financial climate with rising interest rates, fuel bills and general cost of living we feel it is the right decision.
“The cost of preparing a student for Prom can be expensive and in some cases reach well over £500.
“This is a substantial amount of money at a time when people are finding it hard to provide what some would describe as ‘the basics’ in life. The pressure to buy the best dress or suit, to book a car, plus all the extras that come with it can cause deep worry for some families.
“They are also unwilling to admit that they are struggling, but as a school we are aware and sympathetic to this situation.’’
Mr Burnham added that the leavers’ celebration will take place during school hours and will be free of charge to attend.
He also said a similar event was held last year and was ‘hugely successful’.
“A Year 11 leavers’ celebration will be held at the end of the exam season on a date to be announced,” said Mr Burnham.
“A similar event was held for last year’s Year 11 leavers, which was hugely successful and received extremely positive feedback from staff, students and their families.
“We hope that, like us, you feel this is a sensible and supportive decision, taken in the best interest of families during the current economic climate.”