Pupils at St Antony’s Primary School have raised £200 for a church in Forest Gate.

The money was raised in a scheme that sees church-goers teach children about the importance of enterprise in an after-school club.

Enterprise Club is partnered by St Antony’s Church and provides extra business-focused tuition.

Pupils use their IT skills to produce “graphic products” and sell them to parishioners, with the funds raised going to the church.

The products include photographs, newsletters and features on members of the community.

But St Antony’s parishioner Olivea Ohonmele said that the project also teaches pupils how to set up businesses, harnessing and developing their mathematical abilities.

“We’re trying to show young people how to set up their own business – the unique selling point is that the kids do it all themselves,” she said.

“When we run these classes the classroom isn’t a classroom – it’s a workplace.”

Olivea says that the project improves pupils’ employability early on by providing a space for them to solve problems, evaluate risk and raise cash.

“It’s valuable work experience and it also raises money for the church,” she said.

The project started in November but has been given a boost with Virgin Money adding its support.

Virgin’s funding will mean each child in the club will be given £5 as an investment and then see how much they can make it grow.

Headteacher Angela Moore welcomed the investment, saying that it will provide a foundation and incentive for the pupils to further their business skills and apply the school curriculum to real life.

“Partnering with Virgin Money has facilitated this process beautifully for all our children in Enterprise Club,” she said.

“Our children at St Anthony’s are learning that using literacy and mathematics are life skills.

“Being able to use and apply maths in real-life situations will aid them with making purposeful links between what they are learning in class and real life applications.”

The club meets Fridays at 3.30pm at St Antony’s Primary School.