Silence is golden for good cause

A group of Independent Living Skills students at Gower College Swansea have pledged to stay silent in the hopes of raising money for a local charity.

The students are responding to a recent appeal for funds from the Community Horse and Pony Scheme - or CHAPS - which provides rehabilitation through the therapeutic use of horses in the Swansea area.

“The students have accessed CHAPS on a regular basis as part of their Academy of Work course and decided to organise a sponsored silence, off their own backs, during a discussion in their finance lesson,” says lecturer Emma Stephens. “They feel really passionate about CHAPS and have worked hard to raise as much money as they can. They have now pledged to stay silent from 10am to 3pm which will be quite an achievement!”

Due to unfortunate circumstances the CHAPS project (previously overseen by Cyrenians Cymru) is facing possible closure. It’s only through the goodwill of unpaid staff and dedicated volunteers that the charity is continuing at the moment.