The 2019 winner of Eden Shopping Centre’s annual ‘Quids for Kids’ competition has been announced, with £1500 in total being donated to the top three schools.

Castlefield School won the top prize of £1,000 this year, finishing just ahead of second and third place schools The Disraeli School and Children Centre and Loudwater School who won £350 and £150 respectively.

A record 13 schools took place in this year’s competition, in which school staff and parents were tasked with converting till receipts from Eden Shopping Centre into points.

Mr Kann, Headteacher of Castlefield School, said “We were delighted to hear that we won the first prize and are incredibly grateful to Eden Shopping Centre and families and friends of Castlefield School for their support.

“The £1000 prize money is being put towards the development of an unused area of the school, converting it into a dual function outdoor classroom and reading area for use in teaching time and during children’s breaks.

“As a result of the Quids for Kids prize money, we have now reached our funding target and are in a position to proceed with this project. We anticipate our new outdoor classroom to be completed ready for the start of next academic year.”

Miss Pikulski and Mrs Gowers, Co-Headteachers of second place The Disraeli School & Children Centre, said “We are delighted to have been one of the winning schools in Eden’s Quids for Kids competition.

“It has been fantastic to have the whole school community working towards this together and the prize money will help enormously towards our fundraising for new playground climbing equipment.”

Eden’s Marketing Manager, Niamh Crowley, said “We would like to wish huge congratulations to Castlefield School, our Quids for Kids 2019 champions. Seeing the smiles on the faces of the pupils and staff when we presented the school with their cheque in one of their assemblies was a wonderful feeling.

“We’re happy we can do our bit in helping the local community. Quids for Kids was such a success this year that we will definitely run it again, and we hope even more schools will get involved next time. Thank you to everyone who shopped at Eden and took their time to donate points to the school of their choice. It wouldn’t have been possible without their help.”