Metro Bank Sheffield will host two Bears of Sheffield as part of the city’s interactive art installation bear trail starting on Monday July 12th 2021. All funds raised from this summer public arts exhibition will be donated to The Children’s Hospital Charity and used transform the children’s cancer and leukaemia ward.
The bear trail will comprise 100 little bears decorated by local school children of all ages across the region, together with 60 big bear sculptures which have been corporately sponsored and brought to life by professional local and international artists. At the end of the summer each big bear will be auctioned off for the charity.
The Sheffield Metro Bank located at 58-64 Fargate will feature small bears decorated by two local schools – Sheffield Girls’ Infant School and Walkley Primary School. Each school is given a bear sculpture to decorate and in exchange for £750 donated through fundraising activity to take part in the project. All of the schools will get their bear back at the end of the year.
“As a community bank, we love to get involved and being part of an art installation is a first for us,” explains Sheffield’s Metro Bank store manager Chris Gore. “We are looking forward to welcoming bear “hunters” in store – we can even offer them the bare necessities - a refreshing tea of coffee. We are looking forward to our bears in store – lots of children visit our store and I am sure the bears will both be much loved and a fun new addition for the summer and as part of the celebration, any child visiting the store will receive a Metro Bank red M moneybox.”
Walkley Primary School was so excited to have the opportunity to take part in the Bears of Sheffield trail,” commented Val Sian, Headteacher, Walkley Primary School. “Once our parents were informed of our intentions, our highly supportive community led by one of our amazing parents set up at Go Fund Me page and conducted raffles in support of the Children's Hospital Appeal. The overwhelming response meant that with the money raised we could purchase a bear and be involved in the project that is close to our hearts. The children in each class were asked to suggest suitable names and after a whole school vote, Tennyson Ted was named in honour of our recently demolished school building. One of our talented teaching assistants worked with all the children to produce a stunning, colourful and professional bear. We are very proud of the finished result. We are so looking forward to our much loved bear returning to our new school site in October, after the bear trail in Sheffield, where Ted will be the star attraction in the Tennyson Bear Park. “
Up to a thousand people a day are expected to take part in this urban bear hunt. The bears will be placed, here, bear and everywhere across Sheffield and once participants find a bear they tick it off on their map or app and if they find a bear they love, they are encouraged to donate towards it.
The Bears of Sheffield will help fund a new cancer and leukaemia ward at Sheffield Children’s through donations, merchandise, sponsorship challenges and fundraising throughout the trail.
Metro Bank’s Sheffield store can be found at 58-64 Fargate, Sheffield, S1 2HE. The store is currently open Monday – Saturday 08:30am - 6pm. Sunday: 11am - 5pm.