PUPILS and staff at a Walney primary school donned purple and took part in fun activities to raise funds to help keep youngsters safe.

Vickerstown Primary School raised £500 to support Kidsafe UK's Purple Day.

Kidsafe UK is a charity which delivers programmes in schools to help children understand the signs of abusive or potentially harmful situations. It also promotes confidence and self worth so children know who are trusted grown ups and what to do to keep themselves safe.

The education packages also raise awareness around internet safety, cyber bullying and bullying.

The primary is one of a number of schools across Cumbria, the North East and Yorkshire to deliver the sessions as a registered Kidsafe UK school.

The lessons use the monkey mascot, KS, to get their important messages across to the children. Teachers go through training to be tutors for the programme.

A purple balloon features in the charity's logo, so it organised Purple Day to raise funds.

The Vickerstown school community tucked into purple cupcakes and purple refreshments. They produced T-shirt designs and took part in monkey puzzles.

The children also enjoyed cheering on Val Webb, one of the charity's founders, when she dropped by on her bike during her sponsored South Cumbria cycle ride.

Kim Robinson, a school counsellor at Vickerstown Primary and Kidsafe UK tutor, said: "It was a great day, children and staff had lots of fun.

"The parents supported the day with donations."

Mrs Robinson said the programmes are very important and are delivered to children in Reception through to Year Six. There are also programmes for secondary age children.

The charity was established in 2004 by Val Webb and Jude Walker

It does not receive statutory funding, so the programme is made possible through donations and fundraising.

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