By Annie, Gypsy, and Daisy, Charity & Event Office Holders
Being at a Quaker school, charity and giving back to our community and the world are at the forefront of our minds. Our roles as Charity and Events Office Holders help uphold the testimony of equity by using our privileges to make the world a more equal and peaceful place.
The first charity event we held in our roles was the Race for Life last May. We raised money both for Cancer Research and The Little Princess Trust through stalls and activities throughout the day. Another of the most memorable charity events was the annual Macmillan Bake Sale, which is especially important to the school, as Douglas Macmillan was a former student. During the cake sale, we accepted donations of both homemade and store-bought goods and sold them during the school break. It was amazing to see just how much support we got in both donations and sales.
We’ve also had several days when students are encouraged to dress according to a theme or challenge and to bring donations for a chosen charity. Some fun examples include Wrong Trousers Day for the Bristol Children’s Hospital, and Backwards-Shirt Day for Children in Need. We look forward to Red Nose Day next week for Comic Relief!
One of our favourite events we organised was last Christmas, when we ran several collections in the final weeks before the Christmas holidays. For example, in the library, we gathered pre-loved winter coats for the Somerset Winter Coat Exchange, alongside toys for the ELAN Schools. This was then finished with our yearly Christmas Jumper Day to support Save The Children. This event meant the most to us because we could truly see the charitable ethos of our school coming to life, with such an array of donations, while getting nothing in return. It was wonderful to witness the Christmas spirit come to life.
Importantly, to us as a team, we believe in choosing topical charities to support our world today. For example, Sidcot’s termly Disaster Fund Lunches are one of the best ways of highlighting our dedication to peace in the world. Recently, we have sent funds to the Middle East through the Red Cross, aiming to provide critical support for those in need. Additionally, we have raised money for children in Gaza through UNICEF, and have had stalls for Fairtrade.
For all of these events, we organise the collection of money, advertising through posters and by holding assemblies for our whole school. We work as hard as we can to make sure each of our charitable actions is run to the best of our ability.
In present times, where the world can seem more divided than ever, it is especially important to remember that we can help even if it feels small. Little donations and actions go a long way if we do it together as a community. We are extremely humbled to be able to help as much as we do as this year's Charity and Events Office Holders.
