Crowdfunding campaign raises thousands after fire at Duxford Community Primary School
A crowdfunding campaign has already raised thousands of pounds following the devastating fire at Duxford Community Primary School.
The governing body has set up a Just Giving page to raise £5,000 to help replace books and equipment at the primary school, Duxford Playgroup and DX Club following the blaze on Friday night.
An investigation into the cause of the fire, which was tackled by about 50 firefighters, is under way.
Writing on Just Giving, Helen Andrews, clerk to the school governing body, said: “On behalf of the governing board of Duxford Community Primary School, I would like to take this opportunity to ask for donations, no matter how small, towards our fundraising efforts to rebuild our wonderful school.
“Having grown up in Duxford, and being a former pupil myself, Duxford Community Primary School will forever hold a fondness in my heart. Let us not let the fire that ravaged our memories, both new and old, defeat us.
“Please donate as much as you can to help us make Duxford Community Primary School, its pre-school and DX Club return even stronger. We shall use the funds to replace resources lost in the fire.”
As of 5pm on Saturday, more than £3,300 had already been donated by more than 120 people. By Monday afternoon, with the target since lifted to £8,000, the fund had passed £14,800, with nearly 400 contributors.
Fire crews were called at 8.26pm on Friday night. Crews from Cambridge, Gamlingay, Huntingdon and Ramsey, along with firefighters from Saffron Walden in Essex, Newmarket in Suffolk, and from Royston and Baldock in Hertfordshire attended the incident, with the final crew leaving at 5.30am on Saturday.
In a statement following the blaze, the school said: “We are absolutely devastated to confirm that the entire pre-school has been gutted by a fire, leaving nothing but a couple of walls behind.
“The school classroom next door has also been gutted, but thankfully the fire was stopped from going much further into the school.
“We will be in touch with our families as soon as we have more information to share but we have already been contacted by the local authority to confirm that they will support us with new temporary premises for September which is a huge relief.
“Obviously there is much to do between now and then, but we are thankful that the council sent someone out to speak with us and the school this evening.
“We will be talking with Ofsted and our insurance company tomorrow and will start the process of rebuilding our wonderful pre-school ready to welcome our families back just as soon as we can.”
Donate at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rebuildduxfordschool.
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Devastating fire hits Duxford C of E Community Primary School
