YATE Rotary club have made huge donations to schools across the area after they made the decision to close their branch.

Two primary schools and three senior schools were awarded a share of £4,000 after leaders of the Rotary Club of Yate and District made the decision to close when the Presidential year ends at the end of June.

The club made the decision to close after members failed to return following the pandemic, the club said they felt they could no longer 'adequately to serve the community of Yate'.

Due to the pending closure the club decided to distribute any existing funding to local schools, who were invited to apply, by sending two students to Yate Academy on June 18, to make a presentation ‘Dragon’s Den’ style to a panel of judges, outlining the project for which they were requesting funding.

Esaias Burke and Molly Hassall of Abbotswood Primary applied for outdoor play equipment. Ned Tuckett and Leo Taylor from Frampton Cotterell CE Primary School made a plea for new Outdoor Learning equipment.

Daisy Russell, Megan Kelcey and Bonnie Wang of Yate Academy wanted funds towards a new library/reading room to encourage more reading.

Monty Claydon and Katie Cook from Winterbourne academy requested funding to extend school cycle sheds and encourage more cycling to school and Eve Jenkins,

Maddie Harvey and Seth Ashley from Brimsham Green asked for funds to develop an outdoor classroom to incorporate a small farm which would home chickens and grow vegetables.

Chairman of the Rotary Community Services Committee, Rtn Theo White, said: "All of the presentations were excellent, and some were spectacular. All put forward strong arguments, asking for financial support for very worthwhile projects. 

"The standard of presentations was very high, and showed competent use of Powerpoint and video to illustrate the funding needs for the various projects we considered. We were impressed by the confidence demonstrated by the participants, and certificates will be sent out to each of them.

"All were awarded the funding they had requested. £1,000 to each of the secondary schools and £500 each to the primary schools. 

"Many thanks to Yate Academy for hosting this event."