Supporting communities throughout the pandemic

Year-round, independent schools collaborate with state schools, charities and organisations to make a positive difference in their local communities. Over the last year, these outreach projects have become even more invaluable, with schools providing muchneeded support to those most affected by the pandemic.

Throughout August 2021, The King’s School in Gloucester worked in partnership with several charities and local organisations to deliver the Holiday Activities and Food Programme, an initiative inspired by footballer Marcus Rashford and funded by the Department for Education. As part of the scheme, the school offered its kitchen and catering equipment, helping to provide over 10,000 healthy meals for families across Gloucestershire. The programme also offered enriching activities for children throughout the summer, encouraging them to get active and use their creativity.

As the only independent school in the region, Scarborough College plays an important role in Scarborough and its neighbouring communities. Earlier this year, members of staff and volunteers at the school committed their time and resources to support the COVID vaccination effort. The school’ s minibuses, which were idle at the time, were used to assist the elderly and the vulnerable in getting to and from their appointments. The first trip, organised by Age UK, took place in February 2021. As demand grew, staff volunteers at the school carried out up to five to 10 trips a day, supporting over one hundred members of the local community.

During the pandemic, Reigate Grammar School launched the #RGSWeCare campaign, which saw students, parents and staff members providing support for NHS and

With each vulnerable person we transport to their COVID jab, we are reminded that there are unique and personal stories involved. Remco Weeda, director of marketing and admissions and houseparent at Scarborough College “

key workers as well as the wider community. In partnership with both local and national charities and organisations, the school has donated hundreds of items of school uniform to families in need, delivered thousands of meals to help combat holiday hunger, carried out a number of foodbank collections and run minibuses to take local residents over the age of 80 to vaccination appointments.

Pupils of all ages at ACS International Schools are encouraged to think about how they can help others through charitable initiatives. Over the past 18 months, they have helped raise funds for 100,000 meals for children facing food insecurities and more than £85,000 for charities such as Mind, Movember, Cancer Support and international projects in Namibia and Nepal. ACS, which has schools in Cobham, Egham and Hillingdon, also made respirator masks for key workers, donated 300 laptops to partner schools, and worked with industry partners to produce virtual content to support teachers, parents and students with distance learning, as well as peer tutoring sessions.