Pupils spread light and kindness to local communities this winter

Through the school’s Winter Gift Programme, pupils and their families have displayed kindness and compassion in abundance by donating items of food for the local Noor Food Bank.

Items included cereal, tinned food, pasta, rice, biscuits and other sweet treats. In total, donations filled 38 boxes - valued at approximately £950 - offering much-needed support to those facing hardship this winter.

Donations also included class hampers, featuring welcome treats such as chocolate, biscuits and hot drinks which were gifted to key workers at the hospital, police station and fire station as a way of saying thanks to those who keep society safe. In total, 20 hampers – worth £700 – were delivered to the school’s neighbours.

The generosity didn’t stop there as pupils and staff also lovingly sorted a further £800 worth of winter warmers such as hats, scarves, gloves, woolly socks and slippers, as well as sweet treats, into 40 gift boxes to share with residents of the local Fairmont care home. The Olive School, Preston’s choir filled the care home’s corridors with song as they performed with energy and enthusiasm for the care home’s residents and staff.

Parveen Yusuf, Principal at The Olive School, Preston, said:

“I have been blown away by the generosity and compassion shown by our pupils, parents and staff as part of our Winter Gift Programme. Their efforts are proof that by working together, we can make a real difference to our local community. I wish to thank all those involved for their continued support and kindness in supporting our charitable projects.”

The Winter Gift Programme is an annual campaign which sees pupils and staff from every Star Academies school unite to participate in a broad range of charitable giving, acts of kindness and volunteering; all with one simple aim – to make sure no one faces the challenges of winter alone.