By SAACHI SINGH and CATHERINE MELLOR,  Charities Leaders

Wakefield Girls’ is passionate about giving back to our community and our Charities Leaders harness the many different ways through which our students volunteer.  These include House initiatives, clubs, school events and form projects. Most of these options offer a range of ways through which students can manage their contribution. This is a real benefit of volunteering at Wakefield Girls’ as students can manage their time to support a little or a lot.  Wakefield Girls’ raises around £12,000 each year for good causes.  We also donate Christmas presents to local families in need, host an afternoon tea party for local residential homes and collect food items for local food banks.  This week, all students in our Junior and Senior sections have been working together led by our student Charity Leaders to collect contributions for the St Catherine’s Food Bank.   However our students support charities, a key part of the process involves each developing an understanding and awareness of the issues faced and the positive lasting impact their help makes on somebody else. 

In this blog, Year 8 and 9 Charities Leaders, Catherine and Saachi, outline their personal experiences as Charities Leaders, why they recommend dedicating some time to volunteering at Wakefield Girls’ and how you can get involved.

What do I enjoy most about being a Charities Leader ?

I enjoy being involved with the events we plan. I also love having the opportunity to choose a charity to support which I think is a wonderful chance to raise money for a cause that you are passionate about. It is also a lot of fun to meet, plan and support all the events throughout the year.

What projects have I been involved in ?

I have been involved in many bake sales, bringing in many freshly baked goods which have been sold at break times to raise funds for chosen causes.  I have also helped to support charities by planning non uniform days.  I also participated in our famous Charity Christmas Fayre which was a huge success, raising funds for The Alzheimer’s Society. As it was such a big event there were many roles to choose from. I especially enjoyed brainstorming ideas and feedback.

How being a Charities Leader has helped me  

Working with other students on community focused projects has given me the chance to learn new skills and make a positive impact. I was able to share details of upcoming events with peers in my class and have become more confident at getting feedback from a crowd. Being a Charities Leader has really helped to boost my confidence and I feel I can speak out and take control.

What next ?

I am excited to be involved in future charity events!  Specifically, I would like to work on an event which will provide support to families in need following the devastating earthquakes in Turkey.

How to get involved

It can be hard knowing where to start. Being part of the Charities Team at Wakefield Girls’ makes volunteering easy.  Join other students who are volunteering in our community by speaking to Staff Charities Leader, Mrs Phillips.  Whether you are looking for a one-off event or a project, in return for your time and effort you will learn new skills, meet new people and make new friends while supporting the wider community.