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“I wanted to say what a fantastic morning
we have all had. The pupils are buzzing
and are wearing their Readers Make
Leaders t-shirts with pride”
Teacher, Orchard Meadow Primary
In reply:
“My sentiments exactly! It was a really
lovely morning and our students got so
much out of it”.
Ashley Young, MCS.
It also created space for members of staff
from all schools to explore other ways that
partnerships and initiatives could be
developed to encourage opportunity for all.
There continued to be commitment to
charitable activity. Three charities were
selected by prefects and presented in a
school assembly. This was followed by
an invitation for all members of the
St Edward’s community to vote. The charity
chosen was SeeSaw. The charity works to
support children and young people and
their families who experience bereavement.
Fundraising was supported and sustained
by members of the Upper Sixth and notable
individuals in the Fourth and Fifth Form.
It is good to see their compassion and
service have space to flourish.
SeeSaw have also secured additional funds
as a result of St Edward’s support. Through
the networking and awareness raising at
various events they were successful in
securing a significant three-year grant from
the Rank Foundation. Helen Mackinnon,
Director of SeeSaw, writes “Our relationship
with Teddies has been so positive and as their
Charity of the Year, they have raised over
£34,000 for us - incredible. In all, Teddies
has raised nearly £100,000 through direct
and indirect means”. In addition over
£15,000 has been raised for other charities.
Again, this has been through both staff and
pupil-led initiatives.
Elsewhere, I worked with a group of
Fifth Form pupils in a group called ‘be the
change’. The intention was to give them an
opportunity to be cultural architects in their
community and wider world. They decided
they wanted to be the change in their year
group. They wanted to challenge and
change the social dynamic by breaking
down barriers between different groups of
pupils. They designed and developed ideas
for a Fifth Form ‘be the change’ dinner.
At an individual level Sixth Former Joe
Percy responded to a Chapel Service by
applying for a £1,000 grant from Reverend
Andrew Greaves to initiate a charity project
in Palestine. Open Goal uses the universal
language of football to offer children an
alternative to conflict and occupation. He
subsequently developed links with refugee
camps following a school assembly talk from
Computer Aid International. Joe also
trained as a Good Lad facilitator.