TWO Wycliffe Preparatory School pupils were so moved by the plight of refugees they decided to find out what it was like to spend an night in an emergency tent.

But the pair didn’t expect to do it in freezing temperatures.

Hannah Denning and Kaylin Bradley, who are both in Year 8, have so far raised £762 for the ShelterBox charity.

The pair used a wheelbarrow to bring the ShelterBox the six miles from their homes in Nailsworth to the school grounds in Stonehouse.

The ShelterBox kit contains a specially-designed family-sized tent, a cooking set, solar lights and other provisions to create an emergency home for a family.

The girls, with the help of family, pitched the tent in the school grounds. With their mothers for company they spent the night in the tent. Despite the sleeping bags, blankets, hats, scarves and gloves the girls said it was tough going in the -1C temperatures.

It was Hannah’s idea to raise money to help refugees. She organised the fundraising event and her friend and fellow classmate Kaylin offered to support her.

“We were looking at the news and there is so much about refugees without homes that we decided we wanted to do something to help,” said Hannah,13.

“It was difficult to sleep because it was so cold and windy. I woke up at 3am, 5am and 6am.

The girls’ target was to raise £590, enough to buy one ShelterBox kit. They have surpassed that and would like to raise enough for two kits.

“We were amazed that a tent like this can be a family’s home for years. Now I will look differently at the news where there are reports about refugee children in places like Syria,” said Kaylin, 12.

The girls’ campaign is part of Wycliffe’s annual Kirby Challenge which asks pupils to complete an activity that benefits the community or school.

Mr Adrian Palmer, Wycliffe Prep Headmaster, said: “The ‘Kirby Challenge’ award was developed to prepare Year 8 pupils for the transition to the Senior School.

“The girls never dreamt they would be camping out in freezing conditions but they persevered and it is a credit to their determination. The Kirby Challenge is created to encourage pupils to push themselves out of their own comfort zone. Kaylin and Hannah have certainly done that.”

People can donate to Hannah’s and Kaylin’s appeal on: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/helen-denning2