Independent Schools

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Newbury Weekly News

Downe House Going the extra mile for charity

DOWNE House is keen to play its part in the local community and one of the ways it does this most successfully is through its fundraising and volunteer- ing activities. Fundraising is a very important part of the ethos at Downe House and an undertaking that staff and girls alike enjoy. The notion of service towards those less fortunate in life is a thread that runs through school life and each house supports at least two charities, one local and one international, by organising events to raise money, but also through hands-on practical help. Many ambitious events take place during the year, organised by the girls with the support of staff and their families. For many the charities are close to their hearts. Last year the girls raised an amazing £42,372 for charities both locally and internationally. It is a source of great pride that the pupils are so eager to help others and do not shy away from putting their skills and talents to work. They are keenly aware of the importance of the contributions they can make to help others. Each year the co-curricular team organises a volunteering day for the girls in Year 9 and in the past year the girls completed a variety of charitable activities. These included busking in Newbury to raise funds towards a new swimming pool for Mary

Burma and India took place, giving the girls the chance to witness how much of a difference they can make. Headmistress Mrs Emma McKendrick explains, “The school works hard to ensure that our students understand that they have a role to play in society – they are global citizens. “Helping the children that they meet through their link charities gives them a chance to under- stand what they can do to help those that are less fortunate. “This also provides them with vital experience of issues in the wider world, as many of them may consider work of this nature when planning how to spend their gap years, for example.” Charity events are an undertak- ing that the Downe House community is passionate about and it is clear that the efforts result in real benefits all round.

hamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.

Hare School, a residential school for deaf pupils, as well as helping out at the local Riding for the Disabled centre near Newbury. Other initiatives have included packing bags in Sainsburys for donations, organising mufti days at school, with each girl making a donation for the privilege of dressing down, and the ever popular cake sales. A few of the girls spent their time working at a local nursery while others helped out at a local food bank. Other groups had a more envi- ronmental theme, working for Rushall Organic Farm, the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust and the Berkshire, Bucking-

On a more ambitious level, girls are often motivated to organise larger events and this year was no exception. A Father and Daughter Charity Gala took place in June in support of the Purple Commu- nity Fund. It was organised by the sixth form committee and prompted by the experiences of one pupil who grew up in the Philippines and witnessed the slum condi- tions in which some young people grow up. The £2,750 raised will go towards the work of PCF in eradicating poverty, setting up livelihood

programmes and medical schemes. An Evening at the Races was another determined fundraising event which brought the school community together, this time in support of EDCLUB Movement, a charity which works to bring about change by setting up computer labs in disadvantaged communities in Kenya, Malawi and India, bringing broadband access to aid children’s learning. The auction raised more than

£2,000 and empowered the girls to fundraise for a charity in which they wholeheartedly believed. During the summer, some of the girls and staff take trips to visit some of the international chari- ties that they support in order to make personal contributions such as painting classrooms, teaching English, offering toys, clothes and stationery or simply playing with the children. This summer trips to Malawi,

DOWNE HOUSE

We are an independent boarding school for girls aged 11-18 in Berkshire

Open Days: 26 Nov 2016, 21 Jan and 18 Mar 2017

Please contact registrar@downehouse.net to book an appointment.

“A full boarding school turning out delightful, principled, courteous and able girls who go on to make a significant contribution to the world. “ The Good Schools Guide

t 01635 200286 www.downehouse.net Cold Ash, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 9JJ