NWC’s current Charity Donation Total for 2021/22

= £24,570!!

‘We are passionate about education and the success of our students at NWC and we wholeheartedly believe that educational success involves far more than just academics.

Developing an understanding and awareness of social causes, and the power of charitable actions and altruism, is incredibly important in the development of mature, globally aware individuals.’

– Mr Elliott, Assistant Head (Co-Curricular and Community Partnerships)

SUMMER FOOD DRIVE (7 July 2022)

The summer holidays are often a difficult time for many families across the United Kingdom. Having children at home during this period has a great impact on a family’s cost of living with school meals not available and  childcare often needed. With over 14 million people living below the poverty line across the country, a number that is rapidly rising, the pressure on foodbanks is skyrocketing. 

In recognising the very real situation that many families will face over these coming summer months, we ran  our final charitable activity of the year: A food drive for the Hillingdon Foodbank collecting over 700 non-perishable food items, toiletries, and other products for Hillingdon Food Bank to help provide short term and emergency food and essentials for families in the local area going through financial difficulty. 

BOOK DRIVE (13 June 2022)

Currently across London and the UK 1 in 4 children own fewer than 10 books, whilst 1 in 8 have no books at all. This has an impact not only on their academic outcomes but also on their wellbeing and emotional development. We all know the incredible effect that books can have so our Year 7 charity initiative this year was to collect books for the Children’s Book Project – a charity dedicated to bringing the joy of reading to disadvantaged children.

The Children’s Book Project works to directly tackle this ‘book gap’ by working closely with women’s groups, children’s centres and schools across the country to gift gently used books to children and families whose communities may benefit the most from access to free books.

A fantastic whole school book drive allowed us to collect a staggering 1652 books that we could then donate to this incredible cause.

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QUEEN’S GREEN CANOPY (27 May 2022)

The Queen’s Green Canopy  is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”.

As a proud eco-school, we saw no better way to celebrate this incredible milestone for her majesty, than to do something that would also help benefit our natural wildlife, provide cleaner air, reduce pollution levels and mitigate the effects of climate change

Our students were invited to dress in the colours of our flag, and to donate a gold coin towards the cause. The money raised has gone on to help plant 43 trees in communities around the country.

In our own efforts to bring more biodiversity to Northwood College, we will be planting additional trees in front of our new Senior School entrance. Alongside these you will see a commemorative plaque that has been purchased from the Royal British Legion Industries, a charity where all profits go towards supporting our veterans and those with disabilities with work and employment, as well providing residents in our care homes with vital support and care.

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STEPHEN LAWRENCE FOUNDATION

‘Stephen Lawrence Day’ symbolises the part we all play in creating a society in which everyone can flourish. It is an opportunity for children and young people to have their voices heard, make the changes they’d like to see and create a world that treats everyone with fairness and respect.

Stephen Lawrence Day is commemorated every year on 22 April. Junior School staff and pupils raise money for the Stephen Lawrence Foundation with a non-school uniform day, raising over £400 last year.

PERIOD PRODUCT DRIVE

Period poverty is the lack of access to period products due to financial constraints. In 2017, a survey (Plan International UK) reported that 1 in 10 girls in the UK had been unable to afford these products and it is estimated that currently over 137,000 children across the UK have missed school days due to period poverty. 

We believe all women should have access to period products. Led by Deputy Headstudent, Anvi, we chose to celebrate the Menstrual Health Awareness Day (28 May) by holding a week long period product drive, receiving 203 boxes of period products that we were then able to donate to the Hillingdon Foodbank to provide these much needed items for those in our community that need them.

WALK FOR WATER

WaterAid is a British based charity dedicated to bringing clean water, toilets and good hygiene to people around the world. Currently supporting communities in 28 countries, they have been able to help nearly 29 million people since their inception in 1981. 

Walk for Water, our sponsored walk student initiative, saw Year 8 outside with their walking shoes on and counting their steps each day for a week. Their combined distance of over 1,460km has helped raise £426. All of this money will be going directly to WaterAid to help bring clean drinking water to those that need it the most.

JEANS FOR GENES DAY (18 September 2021)

Jeans for Genes Day takes place every year to raise awareness of the daily challenges faced by those living with a genetic disorder. Junior School pupils and staff members enjoy wearing our Jeans for a £1 donation to generate funds for projects that will make a tangible difference to the lives of those affected. This year we raised over £520!

ENGAGE INITIATIVE

Spring term is the season of philanthropy for Year 13 as they embark on their ‘Engage’ journey. As part of our Sixth form provision, the young ladies spend a term learning about the charities, the value of philanthropy and how to responsibly support social causes.

The course culminates in a special fundraising event organised entirely by our Year 13s with all proceeds going to a charity of their choice. Previously chosen charities have included the Trussell Trust Hillingdon foodbank, Mind and an appeal to help the Koalas and other wildlife affected by the Australian bushfires.

EMERGENCY OXYGEN APPEAL (17 June 2021)

As the Covid Delta variant ravaged India, hospitals were overflowing and there was not enough oxygen available. The Northwood community stepped up by raising over £2,900 for the British Asian Trust’s Oxygen Appeal.

HARVEST FESTIVAL (13 October 2021)

Our annual Harvest festival is a long standing tradition with families from across the whole school sending in donations of non-perishable foods and toiletries. Culminating in junior and senior Harvest Festival assemblies, that explore the history of the harvest festival, food banks and how donations such as ours help those in need. 

As always, we were incredibly moved by the generosity of our NWC Family, with over 3000 items donated, all of which were gratefully received by the Trussell Trust Hillingdon Foodbank.

MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING (24 September 2021)

As one of our permanent charities, Macmillan Cancer Support events have a special place on our events calendar – even lockdown didn’t stop us!  This year our Charity Committee, speared-headed by Charity Prefect Maya, organised a bake sale competition with each year group competing for the most number of cakes baked and money raised – congratulations Year 9!

This year we raised nearly £450.

CARDS FOR BRAVERY

An incredible initiative introduced and led by Year 12 student, Shiara, saw students put on their craft hats and hand make 76 Christmas Cards for the charity Cards for Bravery. 

Cards for Bravery is an organisation dedicated to brightening the days of hospitalised and seriously ill children through the distribution of uplifting handmade cards.

BEYOND EDUCATION

Northwood College has joined forces with our excellent catering company, Thomas Franks, for the “Beyond Education, Being Human” programme. Creating exciting dishes ranging from Cottage Pie to Apple and Raspberry Cake, this 10 week programme aims to teach students about safe food handling and cooking techniques, while preparing over 100 fresh meals for those in need in the local community. All delicious meals get distributed by the Trussell Trust Harrow foodbank.

MOOR PARK FUN RUN (19 September 2021)

Held annually, the Moor Park Fun Run aims to raise funds for the much respected Mount Vernon Cancer Centre. The incredible generosity of the NWC community helped us to raise a staggering £17,000, with our school receiving the award for ‘Best Fundraising Team’.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

Each year on November 11th, we hold our annual Remembrance Assembly in memory and appreciation for all of those who fought for the freedoms that we hold dear, and to those who lost their lives in the process.  Red Poppies are for sale in front reception in the period leading up to Remembrance Day and in the form room the morning of the 11th. All money from the sale of poppies and the purchase of a wreath to be laid at the war memorial goes directly to the Royal British Legion.

ENTERPRISE WEEK

Our Sixth form GDST Enterprise team worked together to plan and run a week of fundraising activities. From a bake sale and a movie night to an incredibly competitive game of staff dodgeball, Enterprise Week was buzzing with activity! 

Following an incredible student lead drive to raise awareness of Period Poverty, the students have chosen to donate the £700+ raised to the charity ‘Bloody Good Periods’.

CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY

What better way to celebrate Christmas than with a charitable Christmas jumper non-uniform day! If an entire school full of bright Christmas jumpers, Santa hats and reindeer antlers was not joyous enough, knowing that we raised nearly £700 for Save the Children definitely was! What an incredible cause to support in such a fun, festive way.

MHA COMMUNITIES WEST LONDON

We are so proud to be able to work with MHA Communities West London, part of the UK’s largest charity care provider. We personally print and post over their seasonal newsletters to over 350 MHA members, while also engaging in various intergenerational projects. 

We were devastated when we were unable to invite members in for a Christmas luncheon this year, but the possibility of putting a vulnerable person at a higher risk of catching Covid goes against our charity ethos. To bring a little more joy this Christmas we hand-made and packed 100 Christmas mince pies which we delivered to the members.