Our Year 12 Reps and Year 10 Charity Leads gave a fantastic assembly today. Referencing messages from three recent assemblies – by our Year 9 Wellbeing Leads on how to be happier, Hon. Dr Stuart Lawrence on being a revolutionary and putting our phones down and Holocaust Memorial Day on how to make the world a better place – the Reps demonstrated how helping out with charities and volunteering is a great way to do all of these things.

Cultural Fair

The Cultural Fair in January (as part of our Cultural Celebration Week) raised money for Ealing Churches Winter Night Shelter who offer warmth and safe places to people to come to from November through to March. NHEHS volunteers and their families have been cooking for the residents during this period, with the next opportunity to get involved being March 2nd.

Year 10

December was Year 10’s charity month when they organised a series of fun events for Great Ormond Street Hospital, including the delivery of candy canes, gingerbread and a hot chocolate sale, raising over £400. Year 10 have also been volunteering as part of their Thursday afternoon enrichment. A highlight has been visit to our local care homes where students have been singing carols and chatting with residents – ““a wonderful way to connect with our local community” said one Year 10. Year 10 also ran a highly successful Mencap Christmas Fair for clients of Ealing Mencap at the end of last term, organising games, singing and craft activities, putting smiles on everyone’s faces!

Year 9

February was Year 9’s charity month to fundraise for Cosmic, which supports the children’s and neonatal intensive care units at St Mary’s and Queen Charlotte’s Hospital. The charity was chosen by the year group as they believe that all children deserve the chance to be fulfilled and happy. Their events included spin the wheel, sweet sales and a popular teacher fashion show!

Year 12

Many of Year 12 have been helping out on Saturdays at our BUDS programme for Year 5s from local primary schools. One Year 12 said she found it an “extremely rewarding experience” and encouraged everyone to take part if they get the chance. Year 12s have also been going to Junior School to help Year 4s with reading.

Amnesty Youth Group

Our group meet every Tuesday to discuss global affairs led by our Sixth Formers who are busy planning a whole week of Amnesty activities. Students get involved with ‘Write for Rights’ – sending letters of solidarity to victims of injustice and letters of appeal to governments and corporates, as well as fundraising dress up days and the annual Amnesty Walk to Richmond. Some members also attended the Amnesty youth conference in London last year.

This week is National Student Volunteering Week and our Student Noticeboard is full of suggestions from our Charities Reps, from doing random acts of kindness (dog walking for a neighbour, write a letter to an elderly person or even holding the door open for someone) to volunteering at a local charity, such as Ealing Wildlife, LAGERCan litter picking, Parkrun or Silver Stories (who are keen for people aged over 12 (with a parent/guardian) to go into care homes and hospitals and read to residents or patients).  As the Reps said, volunteering is a great way to get involved and give back to our community and it’s a fantastic for your mental wellbeing, personal growth and confidence.

 Coming up ….

After half term it is Year 8’s turn to fundraise, plus we are looking forward to Sport Relief in March where we will be holding a rowathon in the atrium! There will be more visits to the Care4Calais hostel in Hayes where our volunteers will be running activities and games with the children. Look out for our Easter Egg collection for them too. Year 10 will be helping out in Junior School for Science Week while there are plans for a Sixth Form sleepover for charity in March too!

Thank you for your continued support!