Horsham children join thousands in breaking world record

Jolesfield Church of England Primary School, in Littleworth Lane, and Leechpool Primary School, in Leechpool Lane, raised more than £100 in total for SignHealth.

National charity SignHealth organises the sign2sing record breaker every year and this February 116,980 pupils and teachers from across Great Britain participated in the event.

Steve Powell, Chief Executive at SignHealth, the healthcare charity for deaf people, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have broken the world record for the third year running. sign2sing is our annual record breaking attempt for the most people signing and singing a song at the same time.

“We organised sign2sing to help raise awareness of deafness and the work we do at SignHealth. It’s a great way of engaging youngsters to learn and understand the different forms of communication in a fun and memorable way.

“The event was also a fundraiser for the charity through a voluntary donation from those who took part.”

The schools in Horsham that took part in sign2sing were Jolesfield Church of England Primary School on Littleworth Lane and Leechpool Primary School on Leechpool Lane. In total they raised more than £100 for SignHealth.

Young people from Great Britain and other countries, including Australia, Nigeria, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Uganda and the United States, signed a song, entitled ‘sign2sing’, which was composed especially for the event.

‘sing2sing’ is a fundraiser for SignHealth through a suggested £1 donation from everyone taking part. Children were asked to wear a scarf like Olli the monkey, who is SignHealth’s official mascot, to school on the day of sign2sing and take in their £1 donation.

Steve added: “We’re extremely grateful as all of the money raised will make a significant contribution to the work of the charity.”

The money will be used to continue the charity’s work helping to improve the mental and physical health and well-being of deaf people, including deaf children.

Steve continued: “We’re now busy preparing for our fourth sign2sing event taking place on February 5 (2014), where we’ll try and beat the world record again and this time we will also be encouraging choirs and businesses to take part.

“Schools wishing to take part are invited to register now by visiting www.sign2sing.org.uk and clicking on the ‘register now’ link.”

For more information about sign2sing, please visit the website above or contact SignHealth, which is based in Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire, on 01494 687600.

Alternatively, sign2sing is on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sign2sing and www.facebook.com/sign2sing.

Pictured here are marketing & communications manager at SignHealth, Gail Bunn, Olli the monkey and events & corporate Fundraiser at SignHealth, Linda Petrons, with the certificate from Guinness World Records

Click here to see Leechpool Primary School performing the song back in January.