1 February marked the start of the ‘Big Month In’ a fundraising month for the children at Westbourne House. The emphasis is very much on the collective effort of everyone doing something, which, when amassed together, would make a huge difference to our school charities.
At the end of the Big Month In, we are so very proud of all our pupils, parents, friends and school community, who together raised a phenomenal £9,000 for our school charities.
Mrs Helen Barker, Head of our Charity Committee, announced the results in school assembly. She said to the children: “Thank you so much everyone. This is absolutely brilliant! I am so proud of you all and all the hard work you have put in. Whether you initiated a fundraising idea or supported a friend, you have all made a contribution and I know our school charities will be so very grateful.”
"Throughout February, our pupils from Nursery to Year 8 have put their fundraising hats on and brought us all together as a community, not to mention all the fun we have had along the way," Mrs Barker added.
Charity fun runs, family walks, origami creations, baking delights, hot dogs and film nights, making and selling lip balms, marmalade, jewellery and key chains, as well as doing household chores, sporting challenges, cleaning patios, helping at dinner parties, sleep overs, Big Nights In, clothes sales and even a HIIT class - these are just some of a long list of ways our community has fundraised.
Mrs Barker said: “We are very proud of our fundraising tradition at Westbourne House but it’s not just about raising money. For some children, this sort of event has a lasting effect and it becomes part of their DNA and they go on to fundraise and help charities, here and overseas, when they have left Westbourne and become older teenagers and adults.”
Money was raised for the following charities, which will be supported until the end of this academic year:
Chestnut Tree House, which provides care for children and young people with life-shortening conditions in Sussex and South-East Hampshire. https://www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk
West Sussex Mind - helping young people, adults, older adults, carers and families affected by mental health issues. https://www.westsussexmind.org
Global Canopy - an innovative non-profit organisation working to enable transformative change towards a global deforestation-free economy and saving the rainforests. https://globalcanopy.org
Westbourne House Bursary Fund - for local children who have strong potential in academics, music or sport, but who otherwise would not have access to a Westbourne education.
