Community Action pupils enjoyed a busy itinerary over the Michaelmas Field Weekend.
On Saturday 26 September, 112 pupils and seven members of staff headed to Birmingham to experience a night under cardboard in a car park at St Basils, one of the largest and most successful agencies in the United Kingdom working with young homeless people.
For one night, pupils had a taste of the reality experienced by the thousands of young people who sleep rough. It is hoped that as well as raising awareness of the plight of homeless people, the Sleep Out will raise in excess of £8000 for this very worthy charity. Various talks on the work of St Basils were given throughout the evening by organisers and residents.
The next day on Sunday, over 200 visitors to the School, hosted by over 150 pupils, took part in Have a Go Day, participating in various activities from swimming and badminton to crazy golf and face painting and even traction engine rides around the School’s grounds.
Have a Go Day provides an encouraging environment in which visitors with special needs can try their hand at new sports and activities in a safe and familiar environment. Some visitors make a bee-line for their favourite activity as soon as they arrive; the archery is always extremely popular and well supported. Others like to try their hand at rounders or cricket, and football is always popular.
Finally, on Monday, pupils attended a series of talks beginning with volunteers from the new youth café at Fletton House, a local Oxfam volunteer who has recently returned from Rwanda, and a fundraising team from Lepra.
The weekend finished with talks about ‘Modern Slavery’ by International Needs executive directors from the UK, Ghana and Canada.