Burnham-On-Sea’s In Charley’s Memory has this week been selected as the official charity of the year for the six schools of The Priory Learning Trust (TPLT), showing their support for mental health awareness among children.
Students, plus staff, parents and carers have marked World Mental Health Day by announcing their charity of the year.
A celebration launch was held at St Anne’s Church Academy in West Wick to officially mark the partnership, and present a cheque for nearly £20,000 to Weston Hospicecare which was last year’s charity of the year.
In Charley’s Memory is a rapidly expanding charity which helps the mental wellbeing of hundreds of 11 to 25 year olds in Burnham-On-Sea, Highbridge, Weston and across Somerset. It encourages, trains, and gives ongoing counselling support.
In Charley’s Memory will now be helped by all schools in The Priory Learning Trust, just over five years since former King Alfred School Academy teenager Charley Marks took his own life aged 18.
Dawn Carey, the charity’s Operations Manager, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We are incredibly thrilled that the 5,000 students that are part of The Priory Learning Trust will be helping us this year.”
“The demand for our services is rising rapidly and the more finance that we get means the more young people we can help.”
The schools in The Priory Learning Trust are King Alfred School Academy, Priory Community School Academy, Worle Community School Academy, St Anne’s Church Academy, Castle Batch School Academy and Pawlett Primary School Academy.
Principal Nathan Jenkins of Highbridge’s King Alfred School Academy added: “This inspirational charity is very close to all our hearts and we are delighted to be helping it again with all the schools in our trust.”
Neville Coles, Executive Principal of the trust, said: “In Charley’s Memory is a wonderful charity and we are so excited to be able to partner with it in this way. Last year we raised £20,000 for Weston Hospicecare and we hope this year to once again raise large amounts of money for a brilliant cause.”
