Photo: A Sixth Former with a hedgehog, helped by Andrew's Hedgehog Hospital

Preparations are underway for our annual Sixth Form-led Charity Week, when the School holds a series of fund-raising activities in aid of charities nominated by each of the four Houses.

Last week pupils at every House assembly listened as representatives from their chosen charity talked about their work and how they rely on fundraising to continue.

Dolman House was visited by St Leonard’s Hospice, a local charity which provides specialist palliative care and support for local people with life limiting illnesses. Its in-patient unit, Sunflower Centre, Hospice@Home service and associated care cost an estimated £574 every hour to run.

Gruggen House heard all about the work of Andrew’s Hedgehog Hospital, a wildlife hospital for hedgehogs based in Appleby, Scunthorpe. Its team takes in injured and disorientated hedgehogs and, after nursing them back to health, helps rehabilitate them in the wild.

Wilberforce House is supporting international charity Water Aid this year. Its representatives told pupils about its drive to provide people in some of the world’s toughest places the basic human right of access to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene, to help them break free from crippling poverty.

Hutton House has nominated The Stroke Association to benefit from our fundraising efforts this year. The national charity’s representatives talked about its work to raise awareness of how fast action can save the lives of stroke sufferers, and its campaigns for better stroke care and treatments.  

The guests, who had been invited to the School by the Sixth Form’s Charity Committee, gave thought-provoking presentations which fired pupils’ enthusiasm for Charity Week, held on March 19-23 this year.

Helen Alexander, Sixth Form Housemistress and Head of the Charity Committee, said: “The speakers all spoke passionately about their charities and inspired the students to think about life outside of school and the wider world.

“Charity Week is always a popular and enjoyable week when the whole school pulls together to have fun in a good cause. Pupils also learn a lot about organisation and teamwork along the way but it’s underlying aim is to raise money.

“The Sixth Form Committee got us off to the best possible start by inviting the speakers to talk about the work of their charities. I’m sure they’ll do an equally effective job of leading our Charity Week and the bi-annual School Walk in June.”