Bexley college chief’s ‘Supermarket Sweep’ marathon dash dressed as Santa for charity

By Ella Hopkins

A Bexley college chief has completed a ‘Supermarket Sweep-style marathon dash’ dressed as Santa to raise money for local food banks.

London South East Colleges’ Career Pathway Director Stuart Blackmore filled three shopping trolleys with food and grocery items from staff and students for those in need as part of the Festive FE Foodbank Friday campaign.

Twenty other colleges around the country have also joined the festive fun over the last three months.

Mr Blackmore said: “What a totally humbling experience it was, I was overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of our staff and students.

“I had hoped that we would fill a trolley by the end of it but we managed to do far better than that, almost three trolley loads.

“A special thanks to Joshua, a Health and Social Care student, for his £10 donation.”

Staff and students have collected 20,213 items and raised £4,260 over the last three months.

Launched in March by London South East Colleges, FE Foodbank Friday has raised over £43,000 in total.

Campaign leader Andrew Cox, Group Director of Strategic Growth and Partnerships at London South East Colleges, said: “I’m delighted that we have finally reached the point where we can make those last deliveries in time for Christmas and knowing that we can feel a sense of collective pride in what we have achieved.

“It’s marvellous to see how staff and students have worked together in the final couple of weeks with a Christmas panto recorded for download to staff and parents, the design and production of luxury food hampers – these really are top quality – along with Hair and Beauty students putting together stocking fillers for sale in our salon at Bromley.

“Add to this our SEND students crafting beautiful Christmas gifts and selling them via a mini market in our Nido Volans gardens, the College has been a veritable hive of activity.

“From Friday December 11, many volunteers took part in a virtual Santa Dash to raise extra funds and Stuart’s trolley dash was the icing on the cake as far as the College’s own #FestiveFEFoodbank goes.

“In just 40 minutes, he collected another 500 items kindly donated by staff and students around the campus. It all adds up to a truly phenomenal assortment of goods that will help to ensure no one goes hungry over this winter break.”

You can donate to Festive FE Foodbank Friday by going to the page here.