Charities

Michaelmas Term saw the Committee vote for TEMWA as our main charity for the academic year. Their aim is to sustainably develop remote, rural areas of northern Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world. We also chose Action Against Hunger, a charity committed to saving the lives of malnourished children and supporting their families to beat hunger. Alongside two home clothes days, we held a hot chocolate and gingerbread sale in the JCR, where stock rapidly sold out, and also offered a Christmas card delivery service. Over 140 students purchased cards as it was a great opportunity to show their appreciation for friends or teachers. In total we raised over £3,200 by the end of term, a fantastic achievement.

The competition for the Charity Cup, awarded annually to the House with the greatest engagement in the Committee’s fundraising events throughout the Michaelmas and Lent Term, was in full swing after the winter break. House representatives showed extra effort in selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts, with a huge 576 glazed treats purchased. The Committee focused on associating our events with the theme of love during the Lent Term. Our home clothes day theme was red, white or pink and we also set out to sell chocolates to give people an opportunity to write a note to someone special, whether a partner, friend or teacher, thereby giving the day the name ‘Love Day’ to generalise the interpretation of love. After two terms of exceptional work, Jacob John led Watson’s House to Charity Cup victory. We reached a Lent Term fundraising high this year, matching the Michaelmas Term with over £3,200 raised, this time to be split between Diabetes UK and TEMWA!

The Summer Term saw the majority of the team leaving for exams, presenting us with the opportunity to select a new Committee Chair and other leadership positions. We held our final two home clothes days of the year and also hosted our third second-hand uniform sale at the Summer Arts Evening, during which pupils and parents had the chance to buy cheaper uniform in great condition, and contributed to us raising £600. Everyone pitched in, with shifts throughout the evening, perhaps incentivised by the free ice cream ticket received as a reward for volunteering. On the topic of ice cream, the Committee decided to sell ice lollies to help students cool down during the heatwave. These events helped create awareness of our Summer Term charity, the World Wildlife Fund, and our continued support for TEMWA. We were delighted that our Summer Term fundraising totalled £2,700.

Thanks to an incredibly generous OC benefactor, we secured match funding up to a specified amount for our charity TEMWA. Due to this, we have raised, at the time of writing, an enormous £12,600 this academic year! None of this would be possible without the help, support and generous donations of the Clifton College community, including, of course, Mrs Ardrey and Miss Withey who coordinated the Committee, which led to the success of the planned events.

Enrichment Programme back in full swing this year.

With over 70 Sixth Form pupils volunteering in charity shops, primary schools, nurseries and food banks in the Bristol area to offer their time and give something back to the local community. A real highlight was the silent auction event that Clifton pupils helped to run at the Bristol North West Foodbank. Some pupils waited on tables serving cream teas to guests, whilst a group of talented musicians provided the entertainment for the afternoon.

The Enrichment Programme also continues to offer a variety of school-based activities from: Model United Nations, for those with an interest in global politics and human rights; to a gardening group, which aims to redevelop the school’s pond area; and a beginner’s sign language class in which you can gain a qualification in signing.

Here are some pupils’ accounts of their experiences in the Enrichment Programme this year.

Lydia Hawkins

Peer Support

We have explored what it means to be a peer supporter, learning how best to help students with any issues that they may face. We are given a platform to work closely with the school counsellor on a weekly basis, suggesting ways to improve student wellbeing. We discussed internal exam weeks and how we felt the school could better support us during these times. Having the opportunity to change school policies based on personal experience is an amazing opportunity. In House, the Peer Supporters are always available to speak to anyone about any problems they’re facing, without judgement and with a deeper understanding of their circumstances as a fellow pupil. In sessions we have discussed active listening, confidentiality and communication to better our supportive skill set.

Lara Foster (WT)

Ashton Gate Primary School

We were placed with Year 1 students and we had the opportunity to teach them basic French by playing games with them. This included a version of ‘Duck, Duck, Goose’ in French called ‘Le facteur n’est pas passé’ in which we had to sing with the students as ‘le facteur’ (the postman) is chased around a circle. Another game we played was ‘un, deux, trois, soleil’, which is like ‘What’s the time, Mr Wolf?’, and which the children really enjoyed. They also loved learning the colours in French. Some of us also supported students with their reading. It was a pleasure for us all to be able to visit the school and teach French to the pupils.

Toby Chung (OH)

Bristol North West Foodbank

We helped to sort out and date food donations, and pack boxes of toiletries and cleaning products for families who had just moved to the area, as well as packing snacks and toys for families with children. Working at a food bank are fulfilling and rewarding as you see the packed boxes, full of food, treats and other essentials stack up for those in need. The main things to be taken away from volunteering at a food bank is that you are doing good for others; the ability to give to those who are less fortunate and the knowledge that you are committed to a cause that helps individuals in crisis. Of course, other valuable skills such as working as part of a team, organisation and communication are also developed.

Claudia Lee Calvo (WoH) and Hannah Chung (HH)

Model United Nations

Model United Nations is a competitive role play game, in which students represent countries and attempt to find resolutions to real-world issues. We have learnt a range of highly transferable skills, such as the ability to debate complex and challenging topics, and the ability to research and develop arguments and ideas. These skills serve students greatly, not only during their time at school but after, at university and the world beyond. As a result, universities admire applicants who were a part of this organisation.

Over the past year, the society has had a number of great achievements. In November, the club represented Bhutan in the Bristol School Climate Conference to model COP26. In the Epsom Conference this year, Sam Bailey and Cici Pan won the best delegates of their committees; Louis Afford Lessof and Sveva Roma were highly commended; and Luca Blann was mentioned in the closing ceremony for his impressive performance in the debate. We also had a range of individual achievements, including Konrad Kurczynski vice-chairing the Economics and Finance Committee at a university-level conference, ScotMUN, in Edinburgh. Additionally, we undertook a variety of in-school activities, including a Chapel day dedicated to MUN, and a special MUN event at Commem.

Cici Pan (WoH) and Sam Bailey (NT)

Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB)

Two years ago, we wrote to all members of the Clifton College community to introduce the EDIB vision and mission. We detailed what we wanted to achieve and how we were going to achieve it. A clear vision for a clear purpose: to become a fully inclusive organisation. As the two-year EDIB action plan comes to an end, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for supporting the EDIB initiative. Now it is time to reflect on our progress and celebrate our successes.

EDIB achievements so far:

∙ EDIB Committee with representatives from Council, Old Cliftonians, teaching and support staff, and pupils

∙ Parent Focus Group (Pre-Prep & Pre School)

∙ EDIB drop-in sessions for staff and pupils. An opportunity to ask any questions and learn about EDIB in general

∙ Whole school survey via Flair Impact. We hope to conduct the second survey this academic year

∙ Staff training: Anti-Racism Journey; Conscious/ Unconscious Bias; The Use of Pronouns

∙ EDIB website

∙ Cross-College gender-neutral uniform

∙ APP Anti-Prejudice Programme (a programme to tackle prejudice through education)

∙ Whisper (anonymous platform to report incidents)

∙ EDIB entry category on the school system to clearly identify EDIB incidents

∙ Diversified curriculum (a work in progress with the Deputy Heads Academic)

∙ Increased cross-College collaboration

∙ Partnerships with Bristol City Council for the ‘Stepping Up’ programme

∙ Collaboration with EDI experts (Diverse Educators, Representation Matters, Flair)

∙ Celebration of key events (Black History Month, Stephen Lawrence Day, Pride Month, Juneteenth, International Women’s Day, Ramadan, Diwali, etc.)

∙ Creation of an ‘EDIB Environment’ (boards and displays in most areas of the College) We are currently seeking participants for the Upper School Parent Focus Group, which will launch next academic year.

Geraldine Maringo