A GROUP of youngsters from Helmsley Community Primary School will head to London for an education trip next month thanks to the town’s win in the Great British High Street awards.

The Year Six pupils will visit the House of Lords to take part in a tour and workshop, before meeting local MP Kevin Hollinrake for a Q&A session. The activity has been arranged following Helmsley winning the Best Market Town category of the Great British High Street Awards.

They will then be taken to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the theatre, before staying overnight. The following day an educational tour of Olympic Park is planned to help with a school project linked to this year’s Olympics.

To help cover the costs the school is currently fundraising as well as appealing to local businesses for donations.

They aim to raise £1,000 towards the cost with events getting underway last week with a cake stall at Helmsley Market including donations from parents and members of the community raising £429.80.

The pupils also plan to run a sponsored marathon and hold a car wash at school today (Wednesday) from 8.30am - 12noon.

Katie Atkinson, who runs KVA Planning and is a member of Helmsley in Business, as well has having children at the school, said: “This is a great opportunity for the children and it’s thanks to Helmsley winning the Great British High Street Awards. But with educational budgets being cut, we need to ask for help in fundraising to make it all happen.

"If any of our wonderful local businesses would like to donate any funds or help in any way, we’d also be very grateful. We’ve already had some offers which are fantastic – such as the Traditional Sweet Shop providing bags of sweets for the children to enjoy when they’re in the theatre."

Katie added: "It’s one of the great things about living and working in such a close and caring community. The trip is going to be a fantastic way for the pupils to finish their final year at primary school.”

For more information contact Katie Atkinson via katie@kvaplanning.co.uk .