Watch: School girls set up tuck shop to raise funds for NHS workers

Twins Ava and Ellie, aged eight, and friend nine-year-old Sophie took it upon themselves to set up a tuck shop at their grandparents house in the town.

The girls had set a target of £100 but such was the response from neighbours and generous passers-by that they managed to raise £120.

A fantastic effort for the three friends who wanted to do something to help the fight against Covid-19 and show their support for frontline workers.

Like many other the twins life have been impacted by the outbreak of the pandemic.

Ava and Ellie, both pupils at Magherafelt Primary School, have been living apart from their parents for almost five weeks as they are key workers potentially coming into contact with Covid-19 daily.

Their dad, Stephen Rutledge said it was a great effort by the girls, who reached their target at the weekend, and closed their tuck shop at Woodlands Drive.

He explained that the girls started out selling toys, then crisps and bars of chocolate to raise funds.

“They made up signs and posters for the tuck shop,” he added.

Stephen described it as a difficult time for them as the girls were staying with their grandparents and they can only stay in touch by Facetime or visiting the house and talking to them from the garden.

He said they were looking forward to getting them back home safely once the threat of Covid-19 was over.

Stephen added that the girls deserved ‘a big shout out’ for their fundraising and thanked everyone who had bought something at the tuck shop and contributed to the effort.

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