As the winter nights draw in and the temperatures plummet, pupils from Oulder Hill Leadership Academy are spreading seasonal cheer throughout their community by supporting local people through its Winter Gift Programme.
At Oulder Hill Leadership Academy, we pride ourselves on making a positive difference to society. We are committed to playing an active role in our community and helping others. This winter, we are stepping up our efforts to support the most vulnerable people in our community.
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.
Throughout the campaign, we will be supporting those in our local community – young and old – who are unwell, elderly or living in care, and those experiencing homelessness, loneliness or food poverty. As well as benefitting vulnerable people, our pupils will also gain from their involvement by expanding their leadership qualities – by devising, organising and taking part in charitable endeavours – and experiencing first-hand the positive impact of helping those less fortunate.
This December, our pupils, families and staff have been generously donating gifts, toiletries and food to support a number of local charities and community organisations that provide valued services to vulnerable local people. The school’s five year groups have each selected a worthy cause to support.
Year 7 pupils have been donating clothing and toys to support people experiencing homelessness and families in need who are supported by NHS Rochdale Care Organisation’s Reaching Out programme. Meanwhile, pupils in Years 8 and 9 are spreading friendship and joy to residents at Half Acre Care Home, after kindly donating presents for the campaign, pupils will deliver beautifully wrapped gift sets and a selection of tasty, sweet treats to the care home residents. Year 10 pupils are aiming to sprinkle some festive cheer for the women and children supported by a local refuge centre who will be presented with festive gifts and toiletries over the Christmas period. In Year 11, pupils have been redoubling the school’s year-round efforts to support vulnerable local residents by providing food donations. The pupils ran a charity drive to collect items of food and other essential items that are most in demand and donated the items to Rochdale Foodbank for distribution to local families and residents.
Adi Smale, Principal at from Oulder Hill Leadership Academy, said:
“Our Winter Gift Programme not only supports the most vulnerable members of our community, but affords our pupils the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and to experience the personal satisfaction that comes from demonstrating kindness and helping those less fortunate. It gives me an enormous sense of pride to see our pupils, parents and colleagues embrace this invaluable campaign with such incredible compassion and generosity.”