Charities
Yarrells continues to support both local and national charities throughout the academic year by hosting special events and fun days, mainly organised by the wonderful Year 6 Events and Charity Committee. It is important for all children at Yarrells, from the youngest to the oldest, to understand that helping others is an integral part of life, and by doing so they feel a sense of pride and achievement. Charity Days are of high importance and show not only a sense of school spirit, but also provide valuable learning experiences.
This year, we all had a laugh during our Crazy Hair Day for Comic Relief. Some of the hairstyles on display were particularly crazy including cupcake holders, pipe cleaners and a lot of hair spray! The pupils also wore yellow to support the Young Minds Charity during Children’s Mental Health Week and spent time learning about their own mental health through activities and games – a topic of high importance at Yarrells. Yarrells raised £139 for Comic Relief and £182 for Young Minds.
Our annual Poole Food Bank donation was the largest this year, with Year 6 pupils managing to fill a mini van with produce. The Events and Charity Committee enjoyed meeting the faces behind the food bank and helping to strategically place the items on the shelves ready for the community.
Rags 2 Riches was a great success this year, with families donating unwanted clothing and materials for families in Ukraine. Not only was this learning about re-using old clothes, but in doing so, Yarrells raised £80.76 which was spent on eco-friendly resources.
As part of the House of Opportunity charity – always a worthwhile cause – we collected shoeboxes filled with Christmas joy for vulnerable children and families around the world. Each box was a small gesture of kindness, sending a smile in a box. It was heartwarming to see the beautifully wrapped gifts piled high in the library, ready for collection. Watching them being loaded onto the minibus was a truly uplifting moment, knowing they were on their way to bring happiness to those in need.
At Yarrells, we proudly support #Willdoes, a local charity promoting young people’s wellbeing. Our children loved painting and designing banners for the Swanalulu Festival— a fun and creative way to support a great cause.
Wear it Wild Day was… wild!
Pupils and staff dressed in animal print, onesies, and other wild clothing as they learned about the vital work of the World Wildlife Fund. While having lots of fun, we raised an impressive total of £1,834, half of which will support the WWF’s efforts to protect wildlife and their habitats around the world. As part of the day, pupils also took on a collective ‘wild marathon’, running a cross-country course set and measured by our Year 6 leaders. This was done in support of the Motor Neurone Disease Association, inspired by a former Yarrells parent. We are delighted to donate the remaining half of the funds to this cause.
Finally, this year, the Events and Charity Committee also held a democratic vote with the whole school and selected to raise funds for the RNLI during our Christmas and Summer Fairs. We are thrilled to have raised £311 in funds for this incredible charity. Fundraising efforts were through stalls and games, including a special visit from Father Christmas during the December Fair. However, the stall that was perhaps the most enjoyable (for the pupils at least!) was the ‘Soak the Teacher’ stall, when brave staff members sat under a bucket of water as pupils hit beanbag targets to make the bucket tip! A memory of soaked teachers that will last a lifetime!
