LOCAL boy Casper Clements, 10 is raising money for the rebuild of Paulton School’s outdoor classroom by swimming the equivalent distance of the English Channel.

His goal is to complete the 21 miles by the end of November and hopes his efforts will contribute to the school’s £20,000 target for the Forest School building.

The total distance of 21 miles is equivalent to 33,797 meters, or 1,352 lengths of his local 25-metre swimming pool. Casper, a member of Norton Radstock Swimming Club, has already swum more than four miles since starting his challenge last week.

The current outdoor classroom and bridge at Paulton School were deemed unsafe in September, leading to the its removal which was paid for by last year’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) funds.

£20,000 is required to renovate the outdoor classroom.
£20,000 is required to renovate the outdoor classroom. (Louise Clements)

The PTA is a fundraising group made up of volunteer parents and teachers who work together to improve the learning environment for children at the school. The PTA raises funds through a variety of events, including in-person activities such as the Christmas and summer fairs, out-of-school competitions, and trails.

They also organise fun events for the children, such as discos and story-time sessions, all aimed at fostering a sense of community and supporting the school’s initiatives. The money raised through these activities goes towards making the school a better place for all the children, helping to provide things that make learning more fun and exciting.

A PTA spokesperson said: “We are extremely proud of Casper for raising money for his school and the benefit of his friends and community.

“Forest School sessions provide all of the children at both schools, from reception to year six, a vital place to learn in nature as part of their educational journey. Casper is making a brilliant start to helping us hit our target to rebuild our Forest School classroom with his personal challenge.'”

The school is seeking to raise £20,000 by July next year to fund the construction of a new outdoor classroom for the Forest School programme.

The challenge has already received generous support from family, friends, and local donors.

With just a few weeks left to complete the challenge, Casper remains motivated, swimming most days at local pools with the encouragement of his family and swimming club.

Anybody who would like to contribute to this fundraising effort can donate through Casper's GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/caspers-sponsored-swim?qid=e013939071f1e75a83399b47b2cd8b7b