Newark and District Round Table charity Christmas sleigh receives new look thanks to Newark College students
The spirit of Christmas has come early after students redesigned and built a new charity sleigh.
The project was a link-up between Newark College and Newark and District Round Table, which was looking to rebuild its ageing Christmas sleigh.
Every year the Round Table tours villages and towns to raise money for charity over the Christmas period, allowing families to take pictures with Santa and handing out presents to children.
The sleigh was completely redesigned and built over four weeks by college joinery students, led by teacher Andrew Selby.
Head of Newark College, Penny Taylor, said: “I’m really proud of our students. They really looked after the whole process.
“Students were able to speak with the Round Table about what they needed, work to a brief and make changes as they went along.
“As a college we try to make learning real and offer rea-life work experiences, so that students can be ready for work when they leave us.
“It was a real collaborative effort and that’s what makes work enjoyable. It is something they can look at in 30 years and tell their children ‘I made that’.”
Daniel Otton, chairman of Newark and District Round Table, said: “The old sleigh was looking a bit tired, it was probably 30 years old and we wanted to do something about it.
“We had been putting money aside for repairs and so we approached Newark College to help out as a community project.
“We showed them what the sleigh looked like before and they came back to us with a design and we made some additions such as extra storage for gifts.
“The design was really good and we are happy with how it has turned out, now it’s gone off to be painted and have lights put in.”
As the redesigned sleigh undergoes its finishing touches, the accompanying Rudolph reindeer has also been reupholstered by Sara Dring.
The annual sleigh fundraiser is due to start in early December, running up until a few days before Christmas.
Members from Newark College plan to join the new sleigh on its inaugural trip dressed up as elves.
The sleigh will tour local towns and villages including Farndon, Winthorpe, Fernwood, Coddington, London Road in Balderton and Newark town market place amongst other locations.
