COMMUNITY ACTION
I t has been an exciting year for Community Action at the College. The post-pandemic period was always going to be one of rebuilding and re-imagining. We’ve been delighted with the willingness of our placement locations as well as the reliability and enthusiasm of our many pupils. One of our initiatives in 2022/23 was to bring in Year 9 to the programme. We decided that pupils from Year 9 should serve at either DUCKS or Junior School, and were thrilled that around 30 Year 9 pupils signed up, to support younger children in a number of different ways. The feed- back we received was testament to the commitment and enthusiasm of our pupils and we’re very proud of them. Almost 200 pupils from Year 10 to Year 13 signed up to volunteer with Community Action activities outside of school. They were extremely committed, giving much of their time over the Michaelmas and Lent terms. We managed to arrange over 40 placement opportunities at lunchtime, after school or on Saturday mornings, across about 25 different locations, sometimes with College staff attending, and with Upper School pupils able to travel independently at other times. It’s helpful to label the Community Action placements under three headings. Firstly, there are our environmental opportunities. Many pupils spent their volunteering time in Dulwich Park and Belair Park. To be out in the fresh air, meeting new people and making a practical difference is a really satisfying experience. We were particularly excited to partner again with Dr Martin Heath, the lead volunteer, and our primary contact, at Belair Park. Martin has remarkable energy and vision; listening as he pointed to established trees, explaining that he had planted them himself over 30 years ago helped us to understand his passion for the area. Belair Park contained a significantly overgrown area when our volunteers started. By the end of the Lent term they had exposed a clear flowing waterway that had been hidden beneath the undergrowth. This was tremendously satisfying, allowing another area of natural beauty to be seen by those who walk by. Our second area of volunteering is in a social capacity. We’re very thankful to all of the College staff who partic- ipate in our Community Action placements, not least to those who went to the care homes and food bank on a weekly basis. There’s something uniquely special about going to a food bank or care homes as these experiences open one’s eyes to the circumstances of others who might
be less fortunate or in a less comfortable situation. Sort- ing out the food that has been donated and then arranging it into packages to go out to various homes makes one aware that so many who are living locally cannot afford the basic essentials of life. Elizabeth, the head of Brixton and West Norwood Food Bank, reported that our pupils had been a fantastic asset to the programme, and we look forward to continuing this relationship, as we do with the care homes that we visit. Meeting with older folk who are residents in these care homes, playing games and having conversations and even playing music has been such a thrill for our volunteers. Getting away from school for an hour a week and being with people who might be from a very different situation and background but who so value the time that is given by our volunteers is quite moving. We’ve been delighted with the relationships that have been built, the laughter that has taken place and the con- versations, both incidental and more in depth, that have allowed for friendships to flourish. Our third and final category is that of education. We have been involved with a significant number of local primary schools and have been very pleased with the way that our pupils have walked alongside the younger children to read with them and mentor them. Creating relationships over the course of two terms allows for trust to be built. This trust is, of course, founded on the fact that our pupils regularly turn up and prove themselves to be both trust- worthy and reliable. It’s difficult to appreciate the depth of impact that all of our Community Action placements have made. We are so thrilled with all of those who have been involved with the programme for 2022/23, which will culminate in our annual Service Day. Up to 800 pupils will be off-site, at- tending one of nearly 50 different placements. We will, no doubt, have a thorough report in next year’s Alleynian . ◎ ‘Every week Caleb played with the children, created games with them and made sure they had a good time. He always had a positive attitude and was happy to do what was needed to make sure the children enjoyed themselves.’ ‘Ashton showed a great attitude and always arrived with a smile. I was particularly impressed when he came to do his duty despite having a fracture to his foot due to a sporting accident.’ Additionally, and though this might seem a small thing, I noted that Ashton always took a moment to say goodbye when leaving.’
Tim Buckler reports on the many Community Action placements that have been so willingly and enthusiastically attended this year
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THE ALLEYNIAN 711
COLLEGE COMMUNITY
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