By Mrs Arrowsmith (Charities and Service Coordinator) 

We are delighted to share that an incredible total of over £14,000 has been raised for our school charities this year.

Students across all year groups have taken part in a wide variety of activities, not only to raise funds, but also to learn more about the work carried out by our chosen charities. Our local focus has been on Bedford FACES (Family and Children Early Help Services), which provides vital support to families in need within our community.

Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 have played an important role in understanding the mission of FACES and in organising creative fundraising efforts. Highlights include movie nights, bake sales, the Year 9 Charity Fayre before Christmas, the Tenner Challenge, and the ever-popular discos co-hosted with Bedford Prep. In the spring term, the Year 8 FACES Committee hosted a “Funtime Lunchtime” event with stalls offering a fresh take on traditional games. These events have not only raised valuable funds but also encouraged a deeper appreciation of the work FACES does.

On a global scale, we have continued to support United World Schools (UWS). Awareness of UWS and its mission to teach the unreached has been explored through tutor-time activities and various fundraising events. UWS works to provide education to children in underserved communities by building and supporting schools, including our partner school, Dal Phnom School in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia. With a focus on improving retention and helping girls access education, UWS is supporting long-term change. From henna art to ice cream stalls on sunny days and Valentine’s Day sweet treats, a number of student-led initiatives have supported this cause throughout the year. The sale of refreshments at the Lower Sixth joint rounders match with Bedford School also proved popular. We are grateful, too, for contributions raised during CultureFest.

Thank you to all staff and students who have given their time and energy to making each charity initiative such a success, whether in support of FACES or UWS.

Thanks also to those who donated to Bedford Foodbank and gave gifts of jumpers, hats and other essentials to the homeless in the run-up to Christmas.

Finally, a special thank you to Lucy Scott (Service Captain), Sneha Patel, Ankita Somisetty and Hannah Chirayil, our Service Team for 2024–2025, and to the current team - Sonia Erwig, Freya Lewington and Tara Al-Kader, for their commitment to charitable work throughout the year.