The Autumn Term sees many important charity events that as a school here at Webber we are always keen to support. However, it is important that we not only raise money for charity and participate in the theme days by dressing up, enjoying cake sales and activities but that the children across the school learn more about what each of the charities represent and how their money is used to help and support others.
The theme for this year's Children in Need campaign was ‘Together, We Can’ and was primarily focused around the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and families particularly around mental health and happiness.
During PSHCE lessons across the school we have discussed the effects of the pandemic and taken time to listen and discuss thoughts and feelings together. Children watched videos showing the stories of other young children around the UK who have needed support from their wider community to help them understand how they were feeling, support family members through difficult situations and overcome their own mental health struggles. We talked through some of the groups that Children in Need help to fund - particularly those that are close to us in Milton Keynes, from Sorted Counselling Service who provide counselling support for children struggling with their mental health, KidsAid Foundation who fund therapists to provide Art Therapy sessions and also Family Lives who fund technology for young carers to access support sessions online.
As part of this year's theme and the increasing awareness of mental health and the importance of celebrating differences and individuality our Senior School children were encouraged to support each other and ‘Come as Yourself’ for the day. It was wonderful to see a mix of Pudsey themed outfits, spots and also children wearing clothes that expressed who they were as individuals.
Our Junior School and Nursery children also got involved by dressing in Pudsey themed clothes and spots and many of them also brought their favourite teddy to school and attended our Teddy Bears Picnic at break time.
It was a wonderful and very successful day of fundraising with our final total being a fantastic £753!. Our thanks to the Webber community for helping the children to dress and contribute to the final total.
