June 11, 2015 12.12 pm This story is over 104 months old

Industrious Lincoln students set for Romany housebuilding mission

European adventure: A group of Lincoln students will fly to Romania later this summer to build homes for Romany families living in slums.

A group of Lincoln students will fly to Romania later this summer to build homes for Romany families living in slums.

Ten pupils and two teachers from Branston Community Academy will spend a week hiking in the Carpathian mountains before working on the homes in Zizin and Tarlungeni.

They will be part of the Families and Schools Together project, which works to eliminate poverty, deprivation and discrimination, and to promote social integration in the Roma communities of Brasov county.

All the pupils had to raise £1,500 each to go on the trip and have done charity events and bag packing to raise the funds.

The team prepared for the gruelling 70-mile hike through the mountains with a training weekend in the Brecon Beacons.

The pupils from Branston Community Academy are: Hannah Scott, Alex North, Nathan Walker, Jake Wilkinson, Jess Bleasdale, Scott Kimberly, Alex Edwards, Liam Horsley, Jamie Conyers and Tom Sturtridge.

They will be accompanied by head of science James Carter and head of travel and tourism Martin Phillips.

“The students have worked exceptionally hard to raise money and prepare for the trip and are really looking forward to the challenge,” said Mr Phillips.

“These expeditions really do have a profound effect on the participants. It helps them to understand the advantages they enjoy compared to others and they tend to return home with a renewed compassion and determination to reach their own potential.”

Branston Community Academy headteacher Peter Beighton said: “It’s no accident that the word community is part of the school’s name and identity.

“We strive to create a school in which pupils understand their responsibilities to themselves and society.”