TWO students from Brighton Hill Community School have shown their festive spirit by helping to ensure rough sleepers stay warm this winter.

As part of the school’s work with the Partners in Excellence (PIXL) Them and Us project, students Abigail Rogers and Kai Rogers decided they wanted to collect items to give to the homeless people in Basingstoke and Deane.

The idea came about when 11-yearold Abigail saw an advert for the Salvation Army and wanted to help.

Having spoken to the Salvation Army, the cause suggested the pair support the Night Light Winter Shelter, which provides a safe place for people living on the streets to sleep, enjoy a hot meal and just have someone to talk to. It is being supported by the Real Change, Not Loose Change campaign.

After a month of collecting items, the pair managed to gather nearly 80 items, including hats, gloves, scarves and warm jackets, which were handed over to the shelter on Friday, 8 December.

Gen Rogers, Abigail’s mum, said: “It was all their own idea, Abi had asked to post things on the school bulletin board to get the message out there and the response was amazing.

“I’m incredibly proud of her and it is such a selfless thing to do.

“She always puts other people first and she said to me ‘I just want people to be aware of the homeless’, that’s just the kind of girl she is.”

The pairs generosity ties in with the ongoing work of the Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) run Real Change, Not Loose Change campaign, which aims to raise £16,086 to support rough sleepers in Basingstoke and Deane.

With the items Abigail and Kai raised, staff at the school praised the duo’s attitude to go above and beyond for a good cause.

Headteacher at Brighton Hill Community School, Chris Edwards, said: “Abigail and Kai have really gone the extra mile to reach out to the homeless at Christmas and we are delighted that their efforts have been so well recognised by the charity.”

Abigail’s Year 7 tutor, Katia Hazell, added: “Abi is probably the most thoughtful individual I have ever met, constantly wanting to help others, and do things for other people.

“She was a part of a team doing a bake sale for children in need and raised £70, now she has done the warmth4winter collection and her next project is BEATS [to raise awareness of eating disorders] which she’s hoping to raise money for a crazy sock day.

“Her efforts are contagious as this is inspiring other children in my tutor group to hold other awareness or fund raising events.

"She is a ray of sunshine, truly lovely.”

To support the Real Change, Not Loose Change campaign in raising £16,086 to support rough sleepers, visit spacehive.com/real-change-basingstoke-2017.