Highgate’s annual ‘Charity and Community Week’ took place at the end of half term, raising over £5000 for the three charities chosen by our pupils.
The Senior School was thrumming with the sounds of breaktime busking in Central Hall, charity breakfasts, bake sales, a sustainable non-uniform day (in support of the school’s eco-campaign Fast Fashion-Free February), a charity quiz and foodbank collections. The catering team provided a charity lunch in the canteen on Wednesday – donating the day’s food budget to the school charities, whilst offering a simple menu with ingredients donated by suppliers.
The popular charity netball fixture was expanded this year to include challenges from the Boys First and Second Football teams, who took on the First and Second Netball teams, as well as a match between the Girls Football team and the Hockey squad, and a staff match. Pupils played each other at lunchtime, drawing an enthusiastic crowd as people passed by on their way to the dining hall.
Sophie in Y13, who is the pupil Head of Charity, reflected on the event, saying: “Charity and Community Week at Highgate is a true celebration of what makes our school so special. Every member of the school community is included and has their interests represented through sport, music, quizzes, food, fashion and much more. You can really feel the interconnectedness and generosity as we come together to support our chosen charities and make a real difference as a community.”
The money raised will go to the Senior School Charities of the Year, which are nominated and selected by pupils:
Cool Earth, an environmental charity, for the Lower School
Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity, for the Middle School
The Red Cross, the humanitarian aid charity, for the Sixth Form.
Tim Hyam, Head of Pupil Charity, concluded: “The pupils have put in a huge amount of thoughtful hard work to plan and deliver the events taking place this week, which is great to see. I am grateful to the many pupils and staff who have come together to make the events this week enjoyable and raise funds for the causes that the pupils have chosen.”
