SCHOOLS across Bournemouth have been given an early Christmas present with a £200 gift voucher to spend on equipment from Castlepoint Shopping Park.

Through its 'We’ll Make it Christmas’ campaign, the retail park will be supporting all Bournemouth primary and secondary schools to thank them for the hard work done they have done for the community, especially during the Covid-19 outbreak.

A letter from the desk of Santa Claus packaged in a festive envelope with a £200 gift voucher to spend at Castlepoint Shopping Park on equipment will be delivered to 43 Bournemouth schools.

These will be hand delivered by Santa Claus’s helpers spreading some Christmas spirit along the way.

Castlepoint hopes they will be able to help the schools and their pupils with equipment shortages and the additional coronavirus regulations around sharing equipment.

Each school has been asked to demonstrate through images or creative means what they have spent the money on so they can create a community wall on site to echo the message, further support and spread cheer around the community.

David Pickett, Castlepoint centre manager, said: "We feel privileged to be able to be supporting the local community, particularly the local schools during this unusual time, which for every penny counts."