Top celebrities rush to support Yorkshire Brownies' fundraiser

Every year the girls of the 1st Burley Brownies, based in Burley-in-Wharfedale near Ilkley, write letters to their favourite authors, illustrators and celebrities asking them to design a bookmark they can auction.

This is all part of their project to raise funds for a school in Zimbabwe.

Over 100 bookmarks flooded in this year, from authors Jacqueline Wilson, Julia Donaldson, Lauren Child and Sir Quentin Blake; comedians Frank Skinner and Jo Brand; musician Brian May; actors Dame Helen Mirren, Imelda Staunton and Sheridan Smith; German illustrator Axel Sheffler and many more.

Every bookmark will be sold by auction, until May 25, and members of the public can bid on their favourite bookmarks.

The Bookmark project is in its fourth year and all money raised will support Katiyo Primary School in Zimbabwe.

Brownie leader Sharon Hattersley said: “Over the years the Brownies have helped to raise over £20,000 for the school. This money has helped to build blocks of toilets, provide desks and benches for classrooms, bought reading books and supported other projects.”

In its first year the auction raised over £900 to purchase a reading scheme for the school, then the second year £3000 helped provide electricity to the school and teacher houses.

In 2019, £2900 was raised and is helping to pay to drill a new borehole to provide clean water.

This year’s funds will go towards building a nursery classroom for the youngest children

.The 1st Burley Brownies have supported Katiyo school for nearly 19 years.

To take part in the auction go to www.jumblebee.co.uk/bookmarkproject2020.