£130,000 raised for six charities

Westbourne House has raised £131,917.80 and is donating £21,986.30 to six charities. Helen Barker, who heads up the school's fundraising, said, "As a school, we encourage all pupils and indeed the whole Westbourne House community to get involved in the many and varied fundraising activities for our local, national and global charities. Now, at the end of a two year partnership, we are proud to be able to give each of the charities a cheque for £21,986.30."

Every two years, Westbourne House's pupils select charities to support and over these years the school community gets to know the chosen charities well. We also raise funds for the Westbourne House Bursary Fund, which gives local children the chance to benefit from the unique educational experience at Westbourne House, irrespective of parental means.

Helen Barker added, 

Here are a small selection of the fundraising events over the last two years (photos below):

• Year 3's 'Run in Something Funny for Money' took place on a sweltering day in the summer term.  This did not put off the plucky seven and eight year olds who donned wigs and hilarious outfits to complete their fundraising challenge.
• Secret Art Exhibition: Parents, Pupils and ex-pupils (Old Westbournians), staff and members of the public unleashed their inner artist for Westbourne House's inaugural secret art show.  There were many interesting, fun works all submitted on postcards.
• Westbourne House's youngest pupils (aged 21/2 to 7) were determined to help people less fortunate than themselves.  They raised funds by doing chores at home plus the nursery children did a sponsored treasure hunt, Reception a sponsored jog, and Year 1 and 2 a sponsored swim.
• Book Week dress up day: this is a good example of one of the many dressing up days and mufti days which encourage donations.

• Year 3 came up with the idea of hosting a cake sale at the end of their swimming gala.  They also organised, collected and printed recipe books to sell.

• Big Month In is a bi-annual initiative that enables children to get creative with raising money at home.  The children ended up doing all sorts of fundraising activities such as dog walking, dodge ball, stream swim, sleepovers, car washing, weeding the garden and sponsored runs and walks.

• Many Westbourne House pupils entered the School's Triathlon in May, raising sponsorship money.

• The school fete is an annual fundraiser with many traditional games and stands as well as a dog show and car tracks.
• The parent community contributed over 70 auction prizes at the Westbourne House Charity Ball to raise significant funds for the charities.
• The Westbourne House Players, a brand new amateur theatre group, recently performed My Boy Jack, a powerful WWI theatre piece, to raise funds the Royal British Legion 14 - 18 Legacy, and one of the chosen charities.

Over the years 2016 - 2018, we have supported Winston’s Wish, Mary’s Meals, The Royal British Legion 14-18 Legacy, The Sussex Snowdrop Trust, Dementia Support and the Westbourne House Bursary Fund. 
 

£21,986.30 was presented to Diana Levantine, Chairman and Co-Founder of The Sussex Snowdrop Trust.  

Presenting the cheque to Dementia Support were Poppy and Jasmine Langmead whose parents have been instrumental in setting up Sage House, the hub in Chichester, which provides help and support to dementia sufferers and their families.  Afterwards, Dementia Support said, 

Gerrard McMahon, who visited us from Mary's Meals told the children he was bowled-over by the donation and everyone was delighted to hear that the funds will feed 1,582 children for one year in school.  Our children watched this video, in which children poignantly describe what is like when you are hungry. 

Sylvie Johnston from Winston's Wish, which provides bereavement support and help for children, was also delighted to receive the cheque from Westbourne House. 

On 15 November, we will present the last cheque to The Royal British legion 14-18 Legacy.