Coleshill pals create colouring-in book to raise cash for NHS

Two former Coleshill School pals have launched a charity colouring book to raise cash for the NHS – and their old school was first in line to snap up copies of their fantastic fundraising creation.

Now headteachers from around the area are ordering copies of Lockdown Legends, which was created by Coleshill-based illustrator, Sabina Gran, and marketing consultant, Anna Plotnek.

Anna explained:

We met at Coleshill School and we know that staff there are still working hard to look after children of key workers during the lockdown. So, when we created the ‘Lockdown Legends’ colouring book we were delighted that the school bought copies to entertain the children – and teachers!”

Lockdown Legends began when illustrator Sabina was inspired by the drawings people are putting in their windows in support of the NHS. She created a series of hand-drawn colouring-in boards and shared them on her social media accounts for people to download.

She said:

I was overwhelmed by the response. I even had messages from NHS staff and their patients. That’s when Anna and I teamed up to create the colouring book.”

The book includes pictures to colour-in of Her Majesty the Queen, Colonel Tom Moore and Joe Wicks, with four pages dedicated to the NHS. Once coloured in, the pictures can be removed and displayed as posters in windows, to brighten your community and support the health service.

After staff at The Coleshill School, which is part of the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership, spread the word about Lockdown Legends, orders have been coming in from headteachers across the area.

Coleshill School headteacher Ian Childs-Smith said:

Lockdown Legends is a great idea and we were delighted to support Anna and Sabina’s launch by buying copies. Coleshill staff are working hard to look after the children of keyworkers during the lockdown, and we have been amazed by the way the community has come together to support us. Sabina and Anna’s idea to raise cash for the NHS is another great example of community spirit in action – and we’re proud to say they met at The Coleshill School!”

Every penny raised from the sale of the Lockdown Legends colouring-in book will go to University Hospitals Birmingham Charity’s NHS ‘Superheroes Fund’, which provides support for frontline workers at the Queen Elizabeth, Heartlands, Solihull and Good Hope hospitals, along with the new temporary Nightingale hospital.

Cash raised funds snacks and treats for staff, overnight packs for those staying away from home and tablets so patients can video call their families from their hospital beds.

Charlotte Schofield, director of fundraising at University Hospitals Birmingham Charity, said:

We are so pleased to be a part of this project. The money raised from the colouring books will go directly towards supporting out frontline staff who are working tirelessly to support our patients and fight the battle against COVID-19. The books are beautiful and I cannot wait to get one myself.”

Lockdown Legends is available to buy at: https://plott.lockdownlegends.co.uk/ and https://www.hospitalcharity.org/ for £12.95.

Local companies Headline Communications, printer Positive Print, Cass Art, GComms and the Fuel Bank Foundation help[d get the project off the drawing board.

Captions:

Coleshill headteacher Ian Childs-Smith takes delivery of ‘Lockdown Legends’ from former pupil Anna Plotnek.

Lockdown Legends is a colouring book featuring illustrations by Coleshill’s Sabina Gran. Every penny raised from its sale will go to University Hospitals Birmingham Charity’s NHS ‘Superheroes Fund’.