Schoolboy helps to swell Leyland foodbank

Haaris Quereshi was one of hundreds of pupils from 500 schools who took part in a vlogger competition organised by United Utilities help reduce blockages and sewer flooding to homes, gardens, rivers, and beaches.

The year nine pupil at Wellfield High came third winning a voucher and a cash prize for the school.

But, instead of splashing out, he decided to donate the money to the local food bank and, after talking to his teachers, they decided to share the prize between the food bank and helping needy children this Christmas.

Headteacher at the Yewland Drive school, Jamie Lewis and a group of pupils joined Haaris at the local Morrison’s store where staff filled a trolley with goods.

The food will now go into the Morrisons Leyland food bank initiative for local families

The headteacher said that Haaris was initially undecided about what to do with the money he had won and after talking it through settled on the two ventures.

Mr Lewis said the school has regularly collected for local food banks and usually collects for the Mission Christmas appeal but because of Covid-19 restrictions couldn’t this year.

During the previous lockdown, the school continued to provide grocery boxes on a fortnightly basis to the families most in need and Haaris said he wanted to use the money to support people.

The head added: “One of our biggest strengths is that there is a family feeling amongst the school and, being mindful of the impact of Covid on so many of our families and those in the local community, we wanted to ensure that we provided support to those most in need. "

He added: “Once Haaris won the money for the school, we had a number of discussion about how this could be put to best use and we are extremely proud that he considered the local community.

“It is fantastic that Haaris was so generous and considerate when donating the money to food banks and Cash for Kids.”

The competition was to find the next YouTube Vlogging sensation and to help stop the block to reduce blockages and sewer flooding to homes, gardens, rivers, and beaches.

Haaris’ video was based on the problems caused by wet wipes.