To coincide with their theme of compassion, children from St Mary’s CE (VC) Primary School in Kingswinford have been busy creating special bags for the homeless.

The children first raised money with a sponsored silence, during which they reflected on what it might be like to be homeless.

The school’s worship committee - made up from two children from each year group from Year 2 to Year 6 - helped run the project.

The children were involved in the whole process and began by each class researching the best things to go into the bag, based on what would be cost effective, durable, strong and useful.

A competition to design a logo for the bags was won by Stella Jones from Year 5 whose design said "Any Dream Will Do".

Mrs Wainwright, RE co-ordinator, said: "We believe it is important for the children’s design to be printed on the bags so that they can recognise the impact of the money they have raised.

"Our hope is that if they can see the good they can do, they will continue to do it."

The designs were printed on to the bags by Treasures in Wordsley - at no additional cost to the materials they used and the project was also sponsored by Garrandale Ltd, Stourbridge.

The combined total raised was £1,662 which bought 50 care packages that included a robust bag, a reusable cup, a fleece, a waterproof padded mat, and a bumbag.

The bags also included essential toiletries, donated by parents on non-uniform days.

Reception and Pre-School years also put together care boxes for young families which included toys, nappies, wipes, and blankets.

Other donations of bigger toiletries, warm clothes and toys were made for the shelters.

The children packed all of the bags themselves and wrote letters, poems and prayers of hope to be included in the bags.

On Thursday, April 11, Vi Wood from Leslie’s Care Packages, visited the school to accept all of the donations and packages which will now be distributed and spoke to the children at an assembly about the growing issue of homelessness.

Angela Roberts, headteacher, said: ‘We can’t believe the compassionate response from the pupils and the parents to this worthy cause, and how it has helped the children to put themselves in the shoes of others. We look forward to continuing our work with the community linked to our school’s values.’