Students kicked off Well Wishers’ Make Someone Smile Week with a generous donation to children who face spending Christmas in hospital.

Six ‘A’ level students from Shire Oak Academy, Shire Oak, Walsall Wood, collected items including a rocking horse, toys and books, plus £72 in cash following a week-long series of appeals around school and donated them to Walsall Manor Hospital.

The students got involved as part of a module called enrichment, which forms part of their personal, social, health and economic education (PHSE) curriculum.

To encourage their fellow students to join in, they put up posters on noticeboards for years 7-11 and emailed pupils in years 12 and 13.

One of the sixth-form students, Jake Brookes, said: “We all have decent lives but not all kids are as fortunate and we wanted to help those have a nice Christmas at a time when they’re in hospital.

“My granddad is in hospital at the moment so I’ve got an idea of how hard it is for patients at this time.”

The rocking horse, which is brand new, is to find a home in the Children’s Ward while the toys and books will be sold in the Well Wishers fundraising hub in the main atrium to raise money for that ward.

Fundraising Manager Georgie Westley said: “We’re very grateful to the students from Shire Oak Academy and thank them very much.

“The rocking horse will be very welcome on Children’s Ward and we look forward to selling the other items in the hub to raise money for the ward.”

Well Wishers is asking Walsall Healthcare staff to consider buying a small gift they’d like to give to a deserving colleague as part of our Make Someone Smile Week this week, up to Friday 17 December.

Pictured, from left: Florence Piper, Scarlett Price and Jake Brookes with some of the items donated.