The Season of Giving
The winter festival period is often described as the ‘season of giving’. And this year schools all over Manchester have been proving that title true with their generous efforts.
Pupils at Hulme Hall recently handed over a cheque worth £1,734 to be split between Tommy’s, a charity that funds research into miscarriage, premature birth, and stillbirth, and the WINGS Neo-Natal Unit at Wythenshawe Hospital. They’ve also been busy donating food and household items to Chelwood Foodbank, which serves people in the local area, and hosting a Macmillan Coffee Morning, which raised over £700 in just two hours. The event was described as: “A scrumptious way to kickstart fundraising”.
At King’s School Macclesfield, meanwhile, the Sixth Formers held an ‘End of an Era’ themed Fashion Show to raise funds for The Christie Hospital. The £13,500 raised by the students will contribute to the building of a new state-of-the-art cancer care centre in Macclesfield. The Christie’s Community Fundraising Development Manager, Nichola Doran, said: “We were delighted to be supported by the King’s School Sixth Form Fashion Show. More than 1,500 existing patients will benefit from world class cancer care close to their home when The Christie at Macclesfield opens”. Organiser Olivia Holder, a year 13 pupil, summed the event up by saying: “All the sweat, tears and fake tan involved in raising money for such a great cause helped us bond together and make lasting memories”.
In addition, Withington Girls’ School pupils came together with seven local primary schools to take part in the inaugural fundraising event Manchester Sings, an exciting new venture which brings young musicians together in support of two local charities working to combat homelessness: the Booth Centre and Wood Street Mission. The event took place at Manchester Cathedral, and a delighted parent commented: “The message of peace and love that came across throughout the event was just so fitting in this great place”. The organiser, Mrs Gilly Sargent, Director of Music at Withington Girls’ School, described the motivation for the event when she said: “It is impossible to walk around our city and not be moved by the plight of the homeless and other vulnerable members of our community. We hope that, in bringing these schools together to sing at the Cathedral, we can all do something positive to help”.
Mindful of the fact that charity doesn’t have to be limited to the Christmas period, pupils at Manchester High School for Girls have been getting into the charitable spirit since the time of the Harvest Festival. Due to the school’s connection with the pioneering Pankhurst family, and Emmeline Pankhurst’s choice to send her three daughters to be educated there, they maintain a strong connection with Emmeline’s Pantry, a foodbank for vulnerable women and their families in Manchester. Pupils had opportunities to visit the Pantry to help stock the shelves, and learn more about the challenges which the service users face. Helen Mortimer, Head of the Preparatory Department at the school, summed up the benefits of charitable works from an early age by saying that they “engender the simple, but valuable, traits of kindness and thoughtfulness, as well as instilling a sense of commitment and compassion towards those who are less fortunate”.
With pupils of all ages setting us such a great example, perhaps we can all try getting into the Christmas spirit this year by giving, rather than taking. …Although a bit of taking is probably fine as well.
