We wrote the following press release, which was published in newspapers including the Express and Star!
For immediate publication
Pupils get to meet Santa, as Bouncy Bouncy Boo donates inflatable Santa's grotto to Merridale Primary School following arson attack
Summary: Following the arson attack at Merridale Primary School in Pennfields, which destroyed a forest school that was due to be used as a Santa's Grotto, local company Bouncy Bouncy Boo Castle Hire donated their own inflatable grotto so pupils could still meet Father Christmas.
Body: An arson attack at Merridale Primary School's didn't just destroy their forest school facility – it took with it plans to use the building to host a Father Christmas event. Thankfully, local company Bouncy Bouncy Boo Castle Hire donated their inflatable Santa's Grotto on 18th December, so St Nick could still attend the school and meet the pupils.
On the night of Wednesday December 4th, heartless vandals set the forest school alight. This wooden hut was regularly used by reception and nursery pupils, and staff thought their plans to hold a Santa's Grotto event had been scuppered because of the senseless crime.
Mitchell Tooth, of Wolverhampton-based bouncy castle hire company Bouncy Bouncy Boo Castle Hire, read about the arson in the local press and decided to donate his company's inflatable Santa's Grotto to the school so that the event could go ahead.
Mr Tooth said: "I couldn't believe that anyone would deliberately burn down part of a primary school.
"Merridale Primary School has some of the most dedicated and devoted staff and teachers, and reading about the crime felt like a punch in the gut. I can't imagine how people who work or send their children there must feel.
"I just had to do something.
“I was overwhelmed by how grateful the staff were with our donation of the inflatable Santa's Grotto.
"Every teacher came up to me to thank me, but seeing the smiles on the children was thanks enough!"
Headteacher Simon Lane said: "Thanks to Bouncy Bouncy Boo for donating the hire of their inflatable Santa's Grotto this week. Our children and families loved visiting Santa in there!
"We were thrilled to accept this kind donation. We want to say a big thank you for getting in touch and helping us out.
"The grotto looked fantastic.”
PTA member Ellen Sanders said: "After our forest school playhouse was recently burnt down in an arson attack we had nowhere to turn into a Santa's Grotto.
"After hearing about us on the news, Bouncy Bouncy Boo got in touch with us and generously offered us an inflatable one to use for free.
"We have celebrated Christmas with our children at school today with the inflatable Santa's Grotto and it has been amazing. The children were thrilled and had the most wonderful afternoon.
"Mitch arrived promptly and set everything up for us and the inflatable was brilliant.
"We will be looking to hire the Grotto again next year as it was such a success. Thank you for your generosity."
The public can donate to help Merridale Primary School recover from the arson attack here.
Notes for editors
Bouncy Bouncy Boo Castle Hire is an inflatable rental company based in Wolverhampton and operating in areas including Dudley, Walsall, Cannock, Telford and Birmingham. It also offers other party rental equipment such as fun food machines and rodeo bulls. To speak with them, please call 07980041585.
The Merridale Primary School arson attack was reported here.
Picture: The inflatable Santa's Grotto on the grounds of Merridale Primary School.
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