Charities and Community Service

Charity

The supporting of charities forms an important feature of every term in the Lower School. The School Council named Pupil Vice decides which charities will be supported during the term and discusses with staff the events we will be holding.

There is an event each term organised by one of the Houses and this is often run in conjunction with a non-uniform or dressing-up day. Our major charity event of the year is always the Christmas Fair. This is run entirely by pupils, although parents often help to man the stalls on the day!

In the last year we have raised over £8000 for different causes. An important part of fund-raising involves a visit by the chosen charity to explain to pupils how the money they raised will be used.

Over recent years we have undertaken the following charity events:

Harvest Festival - for the Salvation Army
Jeans for Genes- silver Coin Challenge - for Genetic Research
Shoebox Appeal - Nelsons Journey
Carol Service - for Night Shelter
Christmas Fair - EACH
Bottle Tombola - Guide Dogs
Non-Uniform Days - Save the Children
Colour Run - Street Child

Community Service

Our Upper Three pupils are also encouraged to undertake the Lower School Service Award, with one part of the award focusing on carrying out some Community Service in their local area. Recently this has included pupils singing and performing at local nursing homes, collecting litter, volunteering in local community centres and cleaning all the road signs in their local villages! The school was recognised for the pupils’ outstanding contribution to communities with a national TES award.

Find out more about our recent charity and community service work below:

A Special Assembly from Redwings Horse and Donkey Santuary

By Eleanor Lewis • December 9, 2024

On the morning of Thursday 5 December, Lower School pupils enjoyed an inspiring assembly from Redwings Horse and Donkey Sanctuary in Norfolk, held ahead of our Christmas Fair on Saturday. After voting to support this charity, the children learned more about Redwings’ important work, watched entertaining videos of the animals in their care and discovered how their donations will help. Excited to make a difference, they are even hoping to adopt some of the sanctuary’s animals. We are all looking forward to Saturday’s Christmas Fair to support this fantastic cause!

An Odd Socks Extravaganza!

By Eleanor Lewis • November 12, 2024

As part of Anti-Bullying Week and World Kindness Day, the Lower School supported Odd Socks Day, in partnership with the Anti-Bullying Alliance and CBBC. Wearing odd socks, pupils were encouraged to express themselves and celebrate their individuality and what makes us all unique. No two pairs of odd socks are the same! Pupils used this as a platform to support this year's theme of 'Choose Respect', where they learned how to be respectful when speaking about or to, other members of the school community. Pupils in Lower 2 - Upper 3 learned to 'THINK' before speaking and consider the '30 second rule' to ensure that interactions with each other are inclusive and respectful.

Repton House Takes on Operation Christmas Child

By Eleanor Lewis • November 8, 2024

Mrs Curtis launched a project which Repton have not participated in for some years - Operation Christmas Child which is run by the Samaritan's Purse. She was hoping that each tutor group would be able to donate items to then be packed in a shoebox which she would then arrange to be sent off to many different countries around the world, and end up being opened by children who may otherwise receive no Christmas gift. The expectation was that there would be seven boxes ready to be shipped off by mid-November. During the last fortnight, Repton indeed rallied and have, as a house, shown remarkable generosity. The House prefects organised the creation of gift boxes using simple shoe containers, which were filled with toys, stationery and sanitary products. These packages will serve as heartfelt Christmas presents for underprivileged children around the world, with the aim of bringing a moment of joy into their tough upbringing. Repton house has made a meaningful difference in spreading kindness and hope during the festive season. In fact Mrs Curtis underestimated how much the house would get behind the project and 40 boxes of gifts were sent off around the world on November 15th. A huge thank you to everyone who donated, (and to Mike Conroy the Norwich School driver who delivered them to the drop-off location in South Norfolk). Your efforts will go a long way and will make a real difference to some children who we will never meet yet will always be linked with by the love that we sent in the form of simple boxes filled with good things. - Awaab Raja (U6)