Assemblies this week have focussed on the work of students and staff in raising funds and making voluntary contributions to our wider community.

This year we are proud to announce we have raised funds just shy of £13000, that’s £10 per student!

We had fun and games with our goat races for Comic Relief and, in more sober mood, wore Green for Grenfell to help those affected by the dreadful fire.

In addition, each of our four school communities was busy with their own charity committees running events and activities to support their chosen causes. This year we saw:

Angelou raised for £1000 for WWF. The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international conservation charity founded in 1961, working in the field of the wilderness preservation, and the reduction of humanity's footprint on the environment

Russell supported VSIP-Zambia with £1860, which contributed  to the building of a new library at their school in Zambia.

Ellis raised a tremendous £2104 for Young Minds. Young Minds champion children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing across the UK. Driven by their experience they create change so that children and young people can cope with life’s adversities, find help when needed and succeed in life.

And Turing winning the charity cup for 2016-17 with an outstanding £2130 raised for the Connor Saunders Foundation.

Darran Connor attended the Turing assembly today to thank the students and staff for their amazing contribution. Telling them they should,

Be proud!

She explained to the students that after the tragic loss of her son, aged 19, from one fatal punch, she set out to achieve some to the things he has sought to do in his lifetime. She explained that,

Violence is never the way to solve a problem.

And instead the foundation has set out to provide defibrillators to schools and organisation, along with first aid training so that young people can,

Save a life with your hands not take a life with your hands

If this wasn’t challenge enough, the Duke of Edinburgh Award contributed 1820 hours of volunteering, deemed to have a social value of £7371 and students volunteer each and every day in and around our vibrant school.

In light of the many students and staff who regularly help out in school, giving their time and energy, Darren Saunders said,

I’m in awe of you all for your time and effort for a cause you believe in.

Darran Saunders (Connor’s Mother and founder of the Connor Saunders Foundation)

 

Mabel, one of our Senior Students, told us last week in assembly to,

Live the change you want to happen.

This charity work is no small contribution towards that aim.