Today, the Junior Section at QEGS came together for the annual Harvest Festival, a meaningful event where pupils donated food and gifts to support two chosen charities: St Catherine’s Centre Foodbank and Yorkshire Children’s Charity. The festival highlighted the importance of giving back and helping those in need within our community.

Mr Thompson, Head of the Junior Section, expressed gratitude to all who contributed. He explained, “St Catherine’s Church Centre is dedicated to supporting families, young people, and adults in developing new skills, improving wellbeing, and building confidence. The items donated today will go directly to their Community Pantry, which provides food to individuals and families on low incomes. Many people in the UK struggle with hunger due to financial hardships, and this pantry, relying heavily on public donations, offers a vital lifeline to those in need.”

Yorkshire Children’s Charity was also a beneficiary of this year’s Harvest Festival. Mr Thompson added, “For several years, we’ve supported Yorkshire Children’s Charity, which works tirelessly to ensure no child in Yorkshire is left behind due to ill health, disability, or financial challenges. The donations from our Year 5 and 6 pupils will be used for their Christmas parties, which some of our pupils will help to support.”

The Harvest Festival also featured fresh produce grown by the Junior Section’s Gardening Club. The boys worked hard to cultivate fruits and vegetables, which were proudly displayed and will be enjoyed by many at home.

In his assembly, Mr Thompson reminded pupils, “We are fortunate to have enough food to enjoy and keep us healthy. It’s essential to appreciate this and avoid waste, as unfortunately, a large amount of food still ends up in landfill every day.”

The Junior Section’s Harvest Festival was a great success, demonstrating the school’s commitment to supporting local charities and encouraging pupils to reflect on the importance of gratitude and community.