STUDENTS from year 7 at Tavistock College spent a day last month focusing on one charity, as part of a 'Personal Development' day.
The year 7 task was to learn about a charity and work closely with the community. The students chose to work with ShelterBox, which is based in Helston.
ShelterBox responds to people caught up in natural disasters by sending boxes which contain all a group of ten people would need to sustain life — a tent, blankets, stoves, water purification system, pans, food and even toys for children.
During the day the students experienced a glimpse of what life in a crisis might be like and learned a huge amount about the charity and the countries supported by ShelterBox.
A group of 17 students, all winners of a competition, camped in ShelterBox tents on the college's rugby field.
The 'Disaster Day' itself saw the 270 year 7 students joined by members of the ShelterBox Special Response Team, the police and fire brigade and members of Dartmoor Rescue Group, both two legged and four legged.
An RAF Sea King helicopter flew in eleven shelter boxes, one per tutor group and the challenge began. Each tutor group had to create a display about a given country and the work of the charity.
They needed to erect their tent, research their country using the internet and speak to the visiting professionals.
They needed to learn about the role of police, fire and rescue personnel in a disaster zone. They even saw the DRG dogs search out 'lost' casualties.
Food provided to the students for lunch consisted of items which ShelterBox personnel eat while on deployment.
The meal was cooked on the wood burning stoves, which are contained in the boxes.
Water was available from the purification systems.
The day culminated in a race between the groups, in which they had to take down their tents, carry them and the box on an improvised stretcher and take their display over the police line at the other end of the field.
The first tutor group to put up their display and hoist the flag of their given country was the winner.
Sally Hubbard, head of year 7, said: 'Although ShelterBox gave an enormous amount to the college in terms of time, resources and personnel, they did not ask for any donations at all.
'I am delighted to say however, that through the kindness of parents donating their child's dinner money, year 7 has managed to fund another ShelterBox.
'Our box will have a number and anyone will be able to trace it and know exactly where in the world it is sent and who it is helping.'
Organiser of the event, David Glover, said the day was about raising awareness and profile of the ShelterBox charity and that it had been a great success.
He expressed thanks to everyone involved, particularly to the RNAS for coming in with the helicopter.