A SCHOOL specially for bullied pupils is hoping to get royal support.
Viv Morgan and her late husband Fred converted their ten-bed Hatton home into a school for bullied children after hearing increasingly common stories about children committing suicide.
And since Northleigh School opened in 2010 some 60 children have been through the school’s doors, changing many of their lives forever.
Fred passed away in July at the age of 96, but instead of a funeral and wake, the children at the school remembered him by reading poems and letting off party poppers.
And now the current crop of 26 pupils have created a video in his memory explaining what the school means to them and how it could help others.
They are appeal for donations to help buy a field neighbouring the existing school to enable it to expand.
They plan to send the video to Prince Harry who 74-year-old Viv hopes will give his royal support to the appeal as he has previously spoken out about mental health problems in young people.
Viv told The Observer: “We have been trying by letter to reach Prince Harry for some time. They write back to say he’s very busy and can’t help. The thing is we don’t want him to do a lot but if he would just use his huge influence to ask someone to put weight behind the school.
“We have a waiting list and the demand is increasing. If we could buy the field surrounding us we could make more ‘Northleighs’ and then give all these young people a chance. It takes relatively little time and money.
“In five years Northleigh has sent 54 children – most with severe problems and all having contemplated or attempted suicide many times – on their way to productive lives.
“Northleigh could do so much more for many more of them if we had the resources.”
Visit mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/helpnorthleigh to donate.
