Knitwear helps raise pounds for appeals
YOUNGSTERS donned their best Christmas knitwear to raise pounds for good causes.
A raffle and a monster bake sale at Fearns Community Sports College helped to raise money for Rossendale Hospice.
And Whitewell Bottom pre-school also held a Christmas jumper day to raise money for Tor View school’s ‘100,000 friends’ initiative.
The Stacksteads school’s Youth Enterprise team enjoyed celebrating Christmas and raising money for the hospice at the same time.
Last year the school’s Youth Enterprise team raised the second largest amount of money for the hospice out of all the participating schools.
A group of pupils from Years 7, 8 and 10 also brought some Christmas cheer to residents living in Olive House in Bacup and the Deerplay Rest Home in Weir.
They took letters, cards, ●● Pupils from Fearns donned Christmas jumpers to raise money for Rossendale Hospice cakes and biscuits, chatted with the residents, read the letters and sang songs.
Pupil support worker Lucy Parker said: “Resi- dents and pupils had a great time. Since the visit we have set up a ‘Buddy’ pen pal system so the pupils can stay in contact.”
The Christmas event at Whitewell Bottom managed to raise £65 for the Haslingden community special school.
Some of the children know a pupil who used to attend pre-school and felt it a great idea to do this for their ex-member.
Tor View School’s ‘100,000 Friends’ initiative aims to create links with people across the country and the world to raise £2 million for a new sports hall. ROSSENDALE’S council leader is celebrating after winning selection as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for a second time.
Coun Alyson Barnes won a closely contested internal election against Valerie Wise, to contest the Rossendale and Darwen seat at the next general election against Tory incumbent Jake Berry.
Coun Barnes, who beat her rival, daughter of the late MP Audrey Wise, by 216 to 143 votes, said she was ‘absolutely delighted’ to secure the nomination after the hard-fought internal election.
She said: “I put a lot of effort and energy into it and so did my outstanding campaign team.
“I am seen as practically a right-winger in the party, but a lot of people were really pleased with our showing in June.
“We received the highest number of votes for Labour in Rossendale and Darwen since 1997, to me it would make sense to stick with what I campaigned on successfully last time.
“Within the Labour Party there are 70 or so seats that are deemed as marginal seats and the leadership are keen to get candidates in place so they are ready for when an election is called. It could be any time.”