FINANCIAL support from a housing developer has contributed to children being guaranteed at least one free out-of-school trip during the next school year.

Each year the Friends of Sowerby School raises money to support the activities of Sowerby Community Primary School.

This culminates in its biggest fundraiser of the year, a summer fair.

Some £2,521 was raised at this year’s event, which included a barbecue and bar, fairground rides, beat the goalie competition and numerous stalls.

Mulberry Homes Yorkshire, which is building homes at the nearby Sowerby Gateway development, pledged to match fund, up to £500, the money raised in the school fair raffle.

And as more than £600 worth of raffle tickets were sold at the event, Mulberry’s donation meant more than £1,000 was raised through the raffle alone.

School head Jean Yendall said: “The summer fair was a fantastic success and we would like to thank Mulberry Homes Yorkshire for their kind support.

“It means that in the next school year, every child in our ten classes will be guaranteed at least one free out-of-school trip.

“Trips like this play an important part in the school curriculum and as we are able to pay for them out of our own funds, it means we don’t have to ask parents which is very important to us.”

Mulberry Homes marketing manager David Meacham added: “We were delighted to be able to support the school’s summer fair this year and that the money we have contributed will go towards funding school trips.

“We hope this is just the first in a number of initiatives between Mulberry Homes Yorkshire and the school in the years to come.”