Two Byker primary schools help design a cancer charity community ambulance

Two Byker primary schools have helped to create a design for a new Daft as a Brush community ambulance.
By Ryan Smith
Published 10th Nov 2023, 11:13 BST
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Children at two primary schools in Byker have created designs for a new community ambulance, alongside Daft as a Brush.

Pupils from St Lawrence's and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary, from the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust, were supporting the charity, which provides free community transport for cancer patients travelling to and from hospital in the North East.

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The two schools have "adopted' an ambulance and created a design, named "Stronger Together", which was produced by children from Nursery through to Year 6.

Paul Brown, Executive Head Teacher at St Lawrence’s and St Joseph’s, has revealed how the school's got involved with the charity and highlighted how important it is for the children to see how their work can impact the local community.

Pupils from two Byker schools have helped to design artwork for a Daft as a Brush ambulance. Photo: Daft as a Brush.Pupils from two Byker schools have helped to design artwork for a Daft as a Brush ambulance. Photo: Daft as a Brush.
Pupils from two Byker schools have helped to design artwork for a Daft as a Brush ambulance. Photo: Daft as a Brush.

He said: “We were approached by one of our pupil’s grandparents, who drives an ambulance for the charity.

“We were more than happy to take part as a community initiative and an opportunity for the children to have a tangible and meaningful art project.

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"We adopted an ambulance – our job was to design the back of the ambulance in a way that represented the two schools.”

“They were extremely excited and delighted to see their contributions painted on the ambulance.

“It is extremely important for the children to see their work in action in the community. It is important that children can see that their work can have a high profile and an impact.”

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Daft as a Brush, which is based in Gosforth, has a fleet of more than 40 ambulances and undertakes around 60,000 cancer patient journeys a year.

The charity is supported by a team of more than 400 volunteer drivers and companions.

You can find out more about the work that Daft as a Brush does by visiting: https://www.daftasabrush.org.uk/.

Related topics:SchoolsHospitalWork

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