There is a plethora of charity and volunteering activities going on in June. Teachers and pupils across the school have been collecting donation items and organising events within and outside of the school. Here’s our round up of what’s happened so far and what’s coming up for the rest of this month.

This week in the atrium there has been a collection table for donations to Days for Girls, who distribute reusable sanitary packs for girls in Africa. Year 10 pupils rolled knickers as part of a volunteering afternoon and helped put together the beautiful material packs filled with washable pads and soap. It’s the second year we’ve supported this charity and on Monday 19th June a spokesperson from the charity will speak in assembly on where our donations went last year and what they’re hoping to achieve next.

Year 10s had an afternoon of volunteering on Wednesday 14th June. Pupils either worked with the park ranger in Montpelier park, led craft sessions or sang in a care home, rolled knickers for Days for Girls, packed textbooks no longer need by the school for the book collection for the Books 2 Africa charity or helped set up the annual end-of-year party for children from the Log Cabin Charity, one of our main school charities. Based in Northfields, The Log Cabin supports children with additional needs or disabilities to socialise and have fun alongside mainstream peers and siblings. All Year 10s had a role during the party organising indoor and outdoor games, singing and party food for the 15 children that attended the party. 

On Thursday, Damon, a volunteer at Brainstrust, gave an inspiring talk about the amazing work the small charity does to support people with brain tumours and how the money raised by our Year 9s through their Beanie Babies sales has made a difference.

During World Refugee Week we will continue to support the work of Care 4 Calais. We are currently organising another team of Y9 to Y12 students to visit the hotel in Hayes, where students will lead craft activities and play games with the refugee children living there, before the end of term. The Days for Girls speaker at assembly on Monday will also tell us how their washable sanitary packs support refugees living in Africa.

Next week pupils will be donating fiction and non-fiction books to the Children’s Book Project. One in three disadvantaged children has fewer than 10 books at home and the charity puts pre-loved books straight into the hands of those who need them most. There will be tables in front of school at morning drop off for the collection for the juniors on Wednesday 21st June. Senior students should bring their books to the atrium from Monday to Wednesday next week. 

There is a huge buzz of anticipation around school about the Big Sister/Little Sister sponsored walk on Friday 23rd June. The popular Big Sister/Little Sister scheme links up Year 12s to befriend and mentor a Year 7 pupil throughout the year they start senior school. The sponsored walk sees Sisters walk around  Pitshanger Park, getting to know each other and raising money for the school charity, The Log Cabin. There will also be some spot prizes and house points up for grabs for the team that completes the most laps, the best team name and best dressed team!

The annual garden party at St David’s care home will be held on Tues 27th June. Groups of pupils volunteer to provide afternoon entertainment to residents including singing, poetry recitals, students will bake cakes to take there, and leading craft activities.