WOLLESCOTE Primary School pupils wowed when they were invited to the Rotary Club of Stourbridge to celebrate their community fundraising programme success.

Year 6 students joined the club’s members for lunch at a recent weekly meeting, where the youngsters spoke about the £650 they raised through a number of activities.

Over the past six months, the youngsters have carried out a number of different fundraising tasks, including a car wash, a sponsored swim and a cake stall.

The money the pupils raised, which is going to be matched by the Rotary Club, will now be donated to Shelter Box, a charity that hand delivers aid to families devastated by conflict or natural disaster, giving them safe shelter and the tools to rebuild communities.

Rotarians said they were “amazed” by the confidence shown by the 21 primary school pupils who attended the lunch, and praised their ability to speak to a crowded room of adults.

The Rotary Club has been working alongside Wollescote Primary School for the last five years and have also entered the pupils into the 'Junior Rotary Community Award'.

To achieve the award, which aims to create a healthy attitude towards physical recreation and developing personal skills, as well as help lower levels of bullying, discrimination and racism, the children took part in a range of activities in four areas; community service, skills, physical education and social experience.

Fred Shaw, a governor of the school and also a rotarian said: “Taking part in the programme has raised pupils’ awareness of the services they can access in their local and wider community, including those for leisure and educational purposes.

“They have developed a greater knowledge of what it means to be a citizen of Dudley and how they can help others within their community.”