Publication Date: 19-12-2025 09:00
Bellway funds ‘Elfridges’ secret shopping day at Isle of Ely Primary School
Bellway sponsored an ‘Elfridges’ event at the Isle of Ely Primary School where children were able to choose ‘secret’ presents for their friends and family.
The £400 donation by Bellway Eastern Counties, which is building new homes at neighbouring Cathedral Rise in Ely, allowed the school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) to buy a selection of gifts for the fundraising sale.
The PTA set up the ‘Elfridges’ pop-up shop on tables at the school on Tuesday 9 December, when pupils could choose gifts suitable for parents, grandparents, siblings and friends, up to a value of the amount their parents had pre-paid online.
The gifts were gift-wrapped at the event and given to the children to take home at the end of the school day, to put under the Christmas tree.
Kristie Southcott-Mills, from Isle of Ely Primary School PTA, said: “When Bellway reached out to us to offer £400 to allow us to buy the presents for the ‘Elfridges’ event we were absolutely delighted. The donation enabled us to buy a whole range of items which would be suitable for adults and children so that the pupils had a real selection to choose from.
“This is the third year in a row we have run this event, and it has been incredibly popular with both parents and children at the school. It was very exciting for the pupils to be able to choose gifts for a friend or a member of their family and for it to be a ‘secret’.
“We are very grateful to Bellway for its generosity. The money raised will go towards projects which will help enhance the education provision delivered by the school. We hope that this relationship with Bellway continues and we go on to work with the housebuilder in the future.”
Mia Roussos, Sales Director at Bellway Eastern Counties, said: “When the Isle of Ely Primary School PTA approached us to sponsor the ‘Elfridges’ event we were more than happy to get involved. It is such a lovely idea which allows children to choose surprise gifts for their family and friends in the safe and familiar surroundings of their school.
“The school is next to our new development at Cathedral Rise in Ely so we are keen to be good neighbours. It is good to know that our £400 donation allowed the PTA to buy a lot of gifts and meant they could keep the money raised to support the work of the school.”
Bellway is building 300 new homes at Cathedral Rise, which forms the fifth phase of the wider Orchards Green project on the northern edge of Ely. The scheme is set to provide a total of 1,200 homes alongside other facilities, including the primary school and a care home which are both already open.
Bellway Eastern Counties will open the doors to Cathedral Rise in early 2026. To find out more about the homes being built and to register for updates, call the sales team on 01353 260177 or visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/eastern-counties/cathedral-rise.
