Charities and outreach

We encourage all pupils to be outward looking and to contribute to the community they find themselves in, whether local or global, to learn to notice others around them and to look outside their own needs.

All pupils have a variety of opportunities to engage in charity and volunteer work.

Charity is at the heart of a Bryanston education

We have a Charities Committee with representatives from each House who meet regularly to discuss all things charity. In the autumn term the focus is our annual Charities Fair. This involves every boarding house having a stall or fundraising effort to raise money for Right4Children in Nepal, a charity we have supported for many years.

The Charities prefect takes the lead on this, delivering an assembly to the whole school and advertising our biennial school trip to Nepal.

This year’s Fair raised over £16,000, we hosted over 200 parents for supper and the fireworks at the end of the evening was a spectacular end to a fantastic weekend. 

In the spring term, the Heads of School, in collaboration with the Charities prefect and the Heads of houses plan a weekend of activities to raise money for their own chosen charities.

Highlights from the A2 (Year 13) Charities Weekend 2024
 

Last year, the Heads of school chose to raise money for two international charities, Hope for Ghana and the Play and Learn Foundation. Additionally they supported two local charities, Dorset Children’s Foundation and Meningitis Research Foundation. This included a 'A2 family and friends’ lunch', live music, a dog show and a silent auction. 

In addition, we regularly hold 'Pop Up' stalls in the Main Hall to respond to global disasters. For example, we made savouries and cakes after the Morocco earthquake disaster and raised £226. We also regularly compile ‘recipe bags’ to provide nutritious meals to families in need via the Blandford Food Bank and support their new shop, Nourish. 

Within the Bryanston ethos, it is important that pupils learn the importance of giving time, care and, where possible, money to those in need. As a school we try to strike a balance between local, national and international charities. We endeavour to educate and engage pupils in why and how we give our support.

Whilst continuity and sustained support to specific charities, such as Right4Children in Nepal, is important, we also need to be flexible so that we can support new charities and respond to world events, as necessary, for example the aid truck sent to Ukraine. Raising awareness amongst the pupils is as important as fundraising, and involving our staff in initiatives will help to build a strong school community.   

Community Projects

Throughout their time at Bryanston, pupils have the opportunity to get involved in a range of projects in the local community. For many, this will form part of their pursuit of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme or the service element of the International Baccalaureate.

Projects can include:

• Working as a teaching assistant in a local primary school
• Helping run an after-school club
• Working with pupils from three local SEN schools in regular drama, swimming or horse-riding sessions
• Weekly visits to a number of care homes and hospitals
• Taking part in Tuesday Club (a fortnightly meeting of senior citizens from the local area)

Our aim is that every pupil is involved in at least one community project during their time at Bryanston.