Prior Park College in Bath has held a ‘frugal lunch’ fast day to raise funds for people affected by weather-related disasters around the world.
All students and teachers from Prior Park College shared a simple lunch of either pasta or soup and bread on Friday 27th February 2015.
The extra money saved on the school’s catering bill that day is being donated to Catholic aid agency CAFOD’s Lent Fast Day appeal, which is this focused on supporting people affected by floods, droughts and storms.
This Lent, the UK government will match every pound donated to the Lent Fast Day appeal up to the value of £5 million, from Wednesday 18th February to Friday 17th May.
This means that donations from individuals and schools such as Prior Park College will have double the impact, helping even more people living in extreme poverty overseas.
Tom Maxwell, Head of Theology, said: “The CAFOD Fast Day is a chance for us to raise awareness with the students of why we’re doing what we’re doing, and we held an assembly this morning to look at poverty and justice and peace issues.
“We look at CAFOD’s work in our religious studies lessons and the simple lunch allows the students and teachers to reflect on the needs of those less fortunate than ourselves.”
CAFOD helps communities in countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America when weather-related disasters strike, and supports people to rebuild their lives.
It then works with affected communities to put measures in place to lessen the impact the next time an emergency hits – such as a typhoon in the Philippines or a cyclone in Myanmar.
The agency believes that climate change, which scientists state with 95 per cent certainty is being driven by human activity, is the biggest threat to tackling poverty worldwide.
International Development Secretary Justine Greening said: “By fundraising this Lent, the students of Prior Park College are making a real difference to people around the world whose lives are vulnerable to floods and devastating storms.
“That is why the UK is doubling donations to CAFOD’s important appeal, to help even more families across Africa and Asia withstand the effects of extreme weather.
“This means around 450,000 people will be better prepared to rebuild their lives when natural disasters strike.”