Year 8

Children’s Respite Trust

On Thursday 15^th May, 6 pupils from Year 8, who have finished their exams, visited the Children’s Respite Trust in Uckfield, which caters for severely disabled children and their families. It was a wonderful opportunity for the pupils to volunteer, and put back in to our local community and recognize the needs of others. Mrs Emma Calvert, from the second-hand uniform shop came along too and helped out enormously and supported the children with their work. I was so proud of each pupil who so willingly took part in all the activities, that will so help the wonderful staff at the Children’s Respite Trust. The pupils were amazing. Thank you for all you did to help the most needy in our local community. Ava-Lily takes up the story of the day.

“On Thursday we want to Uckfield to volunteer at The Children’s Respite Trust, which is a local charity that provides respite to the families of severely disabled children. We all helped out, by doing lots of different jobs around the site. In the morning, the girls helped sort, tidy and organize the children’s toys and the boys put together a flat pack desk, complete with the use of drills.  After this, we all learnt what it is like to be visually impaired or indeed blind, using special glasses to create the effect of being partially sighted. In pairs, we helped each other navigate an obstacle course, following instructions from the fully sighted person. An incredible experience.

After Lunch- thank you Mrs Calvert for the biscuits – we helped laminate some sheets that would be used for communication sessions with nonverbal children next week. Then we assisted in laying and cutting carpet to shape, whilst others measured up an area ready for shelves to go up at the weekend.

Soon after that, happy that we were able to help out, we left the site and paid a visit to Mr Whippy on Ashdown Forest on the way home. Overall, it was an amazing day and we learnt so much about disability and the work of the Children’s Respite Trust, so splendidly supported by the second-hand uniform shop. We really enjoyed helping out.” A-L W

Paul Morgan-Jones

Dandelion Time

It was lovely to take over a group of Year 8 pupils to Dandelion Time, in West Farleigh, earlier today – A beautiful House and stunning grounds of 22 acres, which helps support the most damaged, traumatised families in Kent. It was fabulous that the school was able to put back in and serve the local community. Dandelion Time is such a superb charity that does amazing work which receives great financial support from the second-hand uniform shop.

The children really got stuck in with their help and were a great credit to themselves, their families and the school. Tasks included planting seeds of peas, marigolds, beetroots and sunflowers in seed trays, weeding vegetable patches, preparing the ground and then planting onions. The children learnt about animal husbandry, looking after donkeys, sheep and alpacas and they fed the alpacas. These animals provide such a key role in the family therapy sessions held at Dandelion Time. They also had a chance to inspect the magnificent fruit cage which the Year 8’s assembled last year. It looked fantastic and the bushes are thriving inside it. Pond dipping then took place after a well-deserved lunch and the pupils used nets to see what pond life was there. This took place in the newly constructed pond area. It brought to a conclusion two fantastic days of volunteering at two very different but special charities that do so much good for those most vulnerable in our local community. Thank you, Year 8 pupils – you were a pleasure to take and it was lovely to see you all contributing so much in this way. Holmewood House – at the heart of the community. Paul Morgan-Jones