IT'S Red Nose Day and the region has been raising cash while raising smiles.

Schools and organisations across the region have been taking part in the day and we have been inundated with photos.

The Northern Echo:

Le Cateau Primary in Catterick has been getting into the spirit of the occasion.

"We have invited the children to come into school dressed in non school uniform and our theme is 'Red and Wacky'," said a school spokeswoman.

"We also had a cake competition where parents were allowed to bake the cakes but the children must decorate them in the theme of Comic Relief and use Maltesers somehow in the recipe or decoration.

"We had over 100 entries from children and there were some very creative ideas! 

"We also held a decorated biscuit sale at break and last of all are holding a Red Nose Day disco after school.

"Donations to go to Comic Relief and we are hoping to raise lots for them."

The Northern Echo:

Pupils, parents and staff at Whinfield Primary School in Darlington raised a whopping £1,150 for charity from their events.

"The team of UNICEF Rights Respecting Assurers have coordinated Red Nose Day 2017 at Whinfield Primary school by writing to all the children and their parents to ask for contributions using ‘Snuffles Money Box’," said a school spokeswoman. 
"Our children have spent considerable time over the weekend colouring Snuffles Money boxes before building and filling them with loose change for Comic Relief,  they all wore red today in support of Comic Relief."

The Northern Echo:

Priory Woods School and Arts College in Middlesbrough have been dressing up for the day.

A spokeswoman said: "At Priory Woods, we often raise money for lots of different causes and the student council decided that a good way to raise money for Comic Relief would be for staff and pupils to sponsor the Head Teacher the Deputy Head and the Assistant Head to dress up in costumes for the day.

"We held a special assembly where students wore red, told jokes and then voted to decide which members of staff got a cream pie in the face!

"We have also sold red noses throughout the past week. We don't know exactly how much we have raised yet but it looks to be in excess of £200."

The Northern Echo:

Thornaby Academy on Teesside went Red Nose crazy.

"It’s on days like this we could not be any more proud of our school and community. What a fantastic week it’s been," said a school spokeswoman. 

"Our PRIDE ambassadors have coordinated an unbelievable day for Red Nose day. There was a ‘redder the better’ non-uniform day, a red nose bake sale together with find the lucky red nose competition.

"The support the students across school gave to the event was outstanding. Students queued to donate their money during the bake sale and red nose competition.

"We had a sea of red outfits coming through the doors this morning. All of which has meant that just after break we had already almost made our target of £400  for comic relief, with more donations to come.

"The Academy values days like this to showcase how we work together to help others.

"Our PRIDE values-Presentation, Respect, Independence, Determination were well and truly in action leading up to this event.

"A huge thank you to the PRIDE Ambassadors, staff, students, parents and our local community for getting on board with this fantastic day."

The Northern Echo:

Ian Ramsey C of E Academy in Stockton held a bake sale and installed a photo booth for Red Nose Day.

The Northern Echo:

Pupils who took part in the talent show in Crook

At Sugar Hill Primary School, in Newton Aycliffe, youngsters got a visit from Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson who swapped his usual gear for a bright red suit to mark the day.

"You can't start too early with children getting involved with issues that affect where they live and around the world," said Mr Wilson.

The politician raised about £300 in sponsorship and is still appealing for donations to his online page at https://my.rednoseday.com/sponsor/philwilsonmp5840.

Pupils at the school have been learning about the causes Comic Relief supports in the last month and took park in fun activities including baking to mark the day.

Headteacher Paula O'Rourke said: "We're wearing red for Red Nose Day and we do it to make the children aware of the issues in the world and in our country of children who are less fortunate than us."

Mr Wilson also paid a visit to Sedgefield Hardwick Primary School, in Sedgefield, where pupils got the chance to throw the likes of water and cream pies at the teachers in the name of charity.

Young performers took to the stage in Crook to raise funds and awareness for Comic Relief.

At Hartside Primary School, youngsters went all out to impress at a special talent show.

Many children paid tribute to their favourite pop stars, while others demonstrated their skills on musical instruments including the violin and guitar

Staff and pupils also donned wacky outfits for the day and enjoyed a Red Nose Day themed quiz and activities. Other highlights included a coffee morning and a raffle, with many parents calling in for tea and cake.

Jan Blakely, year one teacher, said: “We love getting our school involved with Red Nose Day, and this year the school council came up with the idea of running ‘Hartside’s Got Talent.’ The students have been so enthusiastic and were so eager to do their bit.”

And at Horndale County Infant and Nursery School, in Newton Aycliffe, children donned red clothes while a bake sale was held.

Pupil and school councillor Isaac Richardson, seven, said: "It is important to have Red Nose Day so that we can raise money for poorer people who need help in England and Africa.

"We all brought a 50p donation to wear red clothes. We have sold red nose's and the school council are also having a bake sale this afternoon with lots of yummy cakes."

Headteacher Craig Brown said: "As a school it is important to share with children what they are raising money for.

"We need to ensure we can help them to understand that there are many other people in the world who are less fortunate or are in need of urgent help and support.

"We educate them from a young age as to how the money they raise can make a difference."

Members of the school council at Toft Hill Primary School, near Bishop Auckland, held a design your own red nose competition ahead of the big day.

A panel of judges chose Year 4 pupil Tilly Todd as the winner.

And Hamsterley Primary School administrator Allison Walker said: "It's been a busy week fundraising at Hamsterley Primary School.  Red Nose activities were organised and soft toys were sold on behalf of Butterwick Hospice.

"We even managed to fit in our Daily Mile Run as part of our Red Nose Day activities."

  • If you want to tell us what your school or organisation has been doing email matt.westcott@nne.co.uk.

The Northern Echo:

Cleveland Police updated its Facebook Page to mark Red Nose Day

Cleveland Fire Brigade have been having a bake sale

Schools across Darlington, Stockton and Teesside have told us what they have been doing:

Darlington:

Northwood Primary – Dressing up in bright and wacky colours

Heathfield Primary school – Wearing red T-shirts designed by the children. Also making cakes and donations go to Comic Relief.

Skerne Park Academy – Wearing their own red clothes and each child is making a £1 donation

Gurney Pease Academy – Non-uniform day and cake sale.

Red Hall – ‘Walking the red’. Everyone is dressing up in red and donating £1 per child.

Whinfield – Dressing up in red or Comic Relief merchandise.

Mount Pleasant – ‘Dress up dress down’ in costumes or own clothes, donations go to Comic Relief and Disaster Committee East Africa.

St Mary’s – Jokes competition judged by head teacher and they are dressing up ‘the more outrageous the better’.

Hummersknott Academy – Year 11 organising hot dog and cake sales.

Middlesbrough:

Berwick Hills Primary school – Hosting an all-day disco danceathon with students and teachers taking part. Dress theme is disco.

Brekon Hill – Sleep over in PJs during the day. Also making donations.

Archibald Primary School – Dressing up in red with each child making a £1 donation.

Acklam Whin Primary school – Dressing up in red and wearing red noses.

St Edwards Primary School – Red clothes and donations.

Thorntree Primary – Red clothes and face painting. Donations from children.

Linthorpe Community Primary School – ‘Funny for Money’ competition and donations.

Abingdon Primary School – Baking cakes, non-uniform and selling red noses.

Park End Primary school – Wearing red noses.

Beech Grove Primary School – Wearing red clothing.

Newport Primary School – Wearing red clothing and having a joke competition.

Thornaby Academy – Cake sale, non–uniform day, prize for best outfit. The children have made a game called Lucky Red Nose. 

Stockton:
Hartburn – Wearing red clothing and donating £1 per child.

Oxbridge Lane Primary School – Dressing in red and hosting an ‘Oxbridge's got Talent’.

Bewdley Primary School – Non-uniform and red streaks in hair.

High Clarence Primary school – Non-uniform, PJs or fancy dress. Also having a bake sale.

Priory Woods Primary School – Teachers and students dressing up in red.

Darlington College Next Steps – Students raffle for Comic Relief. Competition where they have to guess Nick Grimshaw's favourites song on the radio. Raised £62 today through raffle which will continue tomorrow.

Bowesfield Primary School – Selling red noses and wearing red clothes.

Rosebank Primary School – Students dressing up as teacher or head teacher, teachers dressing up as head teacher. Donations also being made.

Tilery Primary school – Biscuits to sell to students for Comic Relief, students can dress up.

Ingleby Mill – Dress up day, children can buy red noses.

Ian Ramsey – Red clothes, donations, guess the tutor game using baby pictures of tutors, cake sale, photo booth and basketball tournament.

Hambleton and Richmondshire:

Le Cateau Primary School, Catterick – Children brought in cakes decorated by themselves for a cake contest. Also held a decorated biscuit sale at break and a Red Nose Day disco after school. Children dressed in “red and wacky” non-uniform. 

Stokesley School – Students and teachers are wearing an item of red clothing for a £1 donation.