Students across the Loughborough Schools Foundation have swapped textbooks for tinsel this Christmas, launching a major community kindness campaign that has raised thousands for charity and spread festive cheer to those in need.
Hampers of Hope for the Vulnerable
At Loughborough Grammar School, pupils aged 10 to 18 spearheaded a school-wide hamper initiative. Each year group was tasked with creating gift packages filled with seasonal treats, essential toiletries, and handwritten Christmas cards for the elderly and vulnerable.
Approximately 50 hampers have been distributed across Nottingham, Loughborough, and West Bridgford. The donations have supported a wide range of organisations, including:
- HOPE Nottingham
- Open Heaven Church Community Grocery
- Equality Action
- Living Without Abuse
- Action Homeless
- The Friary West Bridgford
- Community Pantry
- Junction Church Soup Kitchen
- The Carpenter’s Arms
Any surplus items were shared with local food banks.
Santa Run Raises Vital Funds for Rainbows Hospice
The festive fundraising efforts culminated in the Grammar School's own Santa Run, which has collected nearly £2,000 for Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People. The event was created as an internal alternative after the pandemic disrupted traditional charity runs and has now become a cherished annual tradition.
Jeremy Parton, head of year 7 at Loughborough Grammar School, explained: “It’s opened the event up to more students and allowed the whole school community to get involved. We have a strong relationship with Rainbows, and we’re incredibly proud to have raised almost £2,000 through the generosity of our community.”
A Foundation Built on Compassion
The initiatives were not confined to the Grammar School. Across the wider Loughborough Schools Foundation, pupils engaged in numerous seasonal projects. These included collections for Children in Need, a ‘send a candy cane’ campaign for Make-A-Wish UK, and a raffle at Loughborough High School which raised funds for Menphys, a charity supporting disabled young people.
Helena McDowell, charities coordinator at Loughborough Grammar School, said: “It's been fantastic to see our pupils fully embrace the spirit of giving. Supporting our local community, particularly at Christmas, is incredibly important to us.”
The Foundation emphasises that community engagement is a core part of its ethos, with this year's efforts highlighting the values of compassion, responsibility, and teamwork instilled in its students.
