By Zara Talbot, Year 11 Journalist Leader

For this new school year, Wednesday afternoons have been earmarked for girls in year 10 and year 11 to try out some new activities by exploring and developing interests outside of the classroom.  It is hoped that this initiative will “engage girls in the wider community and teach important life skills” said Mr. Cheney. 

There are three different categories to choose from:

Sport – the choices include running, rowing, strength and conditioning training or tennis.

Volunteering and Charitable Opportunities  – through either the Children’s Book Project, Choir in the Care Home, Charity Enterprise, Ealing Park Senior Rangers or existing Charity Volunteering.

Skills – are engineering, film making, sewing and code art.

My first activity was volunteering, which for us meant trying something new and taking us out of our comfort zones as we had to quickly source a place to volunteer, which proved harder than first expected due to Covid-19 and under 18 age limitations.  However, after searching for a suitable opportunity, Oxfam in Hammersmith welcomed Charlotte and I with open arms once forms and parents’ consent formalities were completed.  We were now officially helpers.  So far we have been pricing clothing items with a pricing gun, steaming crumpled clothes and stacking shelves whether it be with new themed halloween goods or general household items;  all new skills and life experiences for the both of us.  We were also pleased to hear that volunteering for Oxfam could also count towards our Duke Of Edinburgh silver award.

Next term we will get the opportunity to try out some of the other enrichment activities, so I may find myself trying my hand at filmmaking or possibly even rowing on the river Thames, but whatever opportunity comes my way I am sure it will be embraced with the usual NHEHS enthusiasm.