MP Backs SHOUT Campaign

19th July 2010
MP Backs SHOUT Campaign

Isle of Sheppey Academy teacher, Michael Thomas, has won the support of local MP Gordon Henderson for his campaign to collect clothes and toys for a school in South Africa.

Mr Henderson agreed to endorse the SHOUT campaign after hearing about Mr Thomas’s ambitious plans and following a meeting with him last week at which he was briefed on the campaign’s progress.

Mr Henderson said: “I am delighted to endorse the SHOUT campaign. I spent a couple of years in South Africa back in the Eighties and I have a great deal of affection for the country. Although South Africa is one of the more prosperous countries in Africa it still has widespread poverty, particularly in the rural areas.

“In endorsing Mick’s campaign I would urge all the schools in our area to join the SHOUT initiative and help him to raise as much money and collect as many clothes and toys as possible. Together we can make a real difference to a community which has known nothing but grinding poverty.”

Mr Thomas explained that SHOUT, which is an acronym for SHeppey OUTreach, was started with the help of students from tutor group Sheerness 17 at the Isle Of Sheppey Academy, who kicked the project off by selling popcorn to fellow pupils who were watching World Cup matches in the hall after school.

Mr Thomas was moved to act after seeing photographs sent to him by his cousin, Sharon Beltman, who teaches in the Eastern Cape in South Africa. Mr Thomas said: “Sharon has been teaching children in classrooms without a proper electricity supply, no running water and poor toilet facilities. The children play football without shoes and have few clothes and no toys.

“When I showed the photographs to my class they were horrified and wanted to do something to help. Now the whole school is coming together around the cause. I hope that we can involve other schools in the area and I am delighted that our MP, Gordon Henderson, has agreed to endorse our campaign to raise money, clothes and toys to send to my cousin.”