Homeless people in High Wycombe have been given a boost after students at The Highcrest Academy voted to make them their charity of the year.

Pupils have chosen Wycombe Homeless Connection to be this year’s beneficiary of their academy’s fundraising efforts.

Every year, Highcrest selects a different local charity and then works to raise money for it and boost its profile.

A delighted James Boultbee, Chief Executive Officer of Wycombe Homeless Connection, said: “We’re honoured and grateful to have been chosen to be supported by the students and staff at Highcrest. It’s been an incredibly tough year for everyone, but especially for people in our community who have no home, or are facing losing the roof over their head.

“By supporting our work, and raising awareness of what we can do, Highcrest students are making a real and long-lasting difference.”

Last year, pupils raised more than £1,500 for Wycombe Women’s Aid.

WHC is a local charity that helps people who are homeless, and increasingly focuses on preventing people from losing their homes in the first place. As well as its frontline support services, it runs a homelessness prevention hotline which gives anyone who needs access to free, independent advice and support.

WHC was one of three charities shortlisted by the High Wycombe school. Each one of them sent in a video which students across the academy watched in classes. A voting form was then sent around the school, and WHC was declared the outright winner.

Joe Clarke, assistant head teacher, explained: “Normally every year, we invite charities in to pitch to schools, but obviously we could not do that this year so we asked for the videos.

"All three submissions were fantastic and we were so impressed, but unfortunately only one could be chosen.

“We have run this charity initiative at Highcrest every year since 2013 and it has been a huge success with everyone getting involved and many thousands being raised for good causes across the area.

"We are thrilled this year to be able to help the homeless in our town and already have a number of ideas as to how we are going to fundraise for them.”