Students at West Lakes Academy are converting achievement points into funds for charity in a new rewards programme launched by the student council.

Students can earn reward points for demonstrating one of the academy’s five values; achievement, appreciation, freedom, respect and resilience and each year group will choose a different charity to raise money for each school term.

This term, Year Seven and the sixth form have raised £379 for Hospice at Home West Cumbria and Years Eight, Nine, Ten and Eleven have raised £621 for Macmillan.

The funds raised could fund a Macmillan nurse for 20 hours or provide financial support to local people living with cancer. Student council representatives presented the two charities with cheques this week.

Eilis Lightfoot, rewards lead at West Lakes Academy, said: “It has been a pleasure working with our students to create their vision of donating to charities. As an academy, it has been an amazing opportunity for our students to have their voice heard and involve every student in the donation process. All students contributing to the rewards system has definitely given them the positive boost to be successful.”

Year Eight student, Matthew Price was involved in selecting a charity for his year group to represent, he said:

“I chose to support Macmillan because I think that there work is very beneficial to people in need and support people that need emotional, physical and mental support.”