8:51am Sunday 24th February 2008
By Richard Vernalls
WYRE Forest web users could turn computer clicks into charity cash according to an internet-savvy school supporter.
Rachel Joyner has already introduced St Ambrose Catholic Primary School, in Kidderminster, to a website search engine www.everyclick.com which earns money for the Friends of St Ambrose School - a registered charity.
The internet search tool - which trawls the internet for the closest matches to a query typed in on the computer keyboard - generates 1p for each new search launched.
People must first register on the website with their email address and then either nominate a charity or raise funds for all 170,000 good causes listed.
The site is free to register and makes all its money through advertising.
Mrs Joyner, a Friends of St Ambrose member, got the idea working part time at Ombersley Endowed First School where staff have already signed up the school.
Since she highlighted the website's existence a month ago, St Ambrose's teachers have started using the website during lessons while 63 registered supporters have raised £50 for the PTA.
Mrs Joyner said: "I never thought I'd be such an anorak about it.
"My aim was to get 50 people signed up before the end of February so now I'm thinking 100 before the end of March."
The school has sent out messages to pupils' parents through St Ambrose's newsletter and Mrs Joyner has approached nearby businesses to convince them to use the website.
She added: "For a small school with 200 pupils to get £1,000 a year would be fantastic.
"I want our school up and running on this and then hopefully other schools in the area will do the same."
The cash is paid out after three months and a month in arrears, with St Ambrose receiving its first cheque in May.
Jane McNally, deputy headteacher, praised the website as "a really good idea" explaining pupils already used search engines in their lessons but could now raise money for the school as well.
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