Moved by Holy Trinity’s campaign to raise the funds to pay for the refurbishment of the shop, as part of the transformation project, Olivia Hemingway took it upon herself to organise a bake sale and has raised over £95.

Olivia, a sixth form student at Archbishop Sentamu Academy was the first person to pick up and return a fundraising leaflet to register her interest after the campaign launched.

“I heard that the church was trying to raise money and I thought that trying to raise money in school would be the easiest way to do it.” Oliver explains. “The school has had bake sales that were successful before so it seemed like the best idea.

After gaining permission from the head of sixth form, she began planning with the help of one of her teachers. Part of her planning including publicising the bake sale and getting others to help. “I made the posters and distributed them with help from fellow sixth formers. Two days before the bake sale, with the help of some RE Young Ambassadors, a couple of teachers and a sixth form friend of mine, we baked over a hundred buns.”

The cake sale was very popular amongst students and resulted in Olivia and her team raising over £95. Rev Canon Dr Neal Barnes, Vicar of Holy Trinity, said “It’s phenomenal that the young people were so willing to help us out. Olivia managed to co-ordinate her team of friends and encouraged them in such a positive way to help others; she showed true initiative.”

The money is being raised to pay for the £50,000 refurbishment of the shop, as part of their £4.5m transformation project to improve facilities.  Refurbishing the shop will enrich the visitor experience and provide significant volunteering opportunities for local people, offering them retail experience, customer service skills and a warm friendly environment in which to make friends.