Oakham's Lower School pupils have helped to donate over 300 gifts for the Trent Vineyard Church, in partnership with Nottingham City Housing Association, who currently support over 300 families in temporary hostel accommodation.

Form 2 pupils Oliver and Jack of Sargants House galvanised the whole of Lower School to buy Christmas gifts for this initiative. The boys created bespoke posters for each of the four Lower School Houses, assigning gifts for different age groups to buy and inviting pupils to bring in a wrapped and labelled gift.

Local toy shop ZanyPig also offered their services so parents and pupils could donate a wrapped gift purchased via their website (with 10% added to the total) and have it delivered to the School.

Vikki Youll of ZanyPig, said: "We feel immensely proud and privileged to have been given the opportunity to support this wonderful school initiative and have also contributed another 50% of toys in addition to your generosity.

"The donated toys range from classic games to educational toys and then some gifts that are just simply good fun – indoors or out. It is thanks to your kindness that we can deliver approximately 140 toys and gifts to children who will not be in their own home this Christmas."

Ashley Denman, Housemaster of Sargants House, said: "Thanks to the generosity of the Lower School community, we have provided a tremendous number of presents for the children who will be in hostel accommodation in Nottingham this Christmas.

"I am extremely proud of the way Oliver and Jack worked together to lead this fantastic charity appeal. The initiative and commitment they showed were impressive."