Eight students at Murray Park School in Mickleover have spent a full day packing food hampers for local families, an initiative that runs twice a year and has grown since its launch during the pandemic. The pupils, six from Year 9 and two from Year 8, worked alongside staff to prepare essential supplies for households across the school community.
Summer and Christmas hampers support 20 families
The scheme, which operates before the summer holidays and again at Christmas, involves the whole school through non-uniform days and item donations. Heads of year and the pastoral team privately contact families to offer tailored support packages, and each hamper is personally delivered to twenty chosen households by team member Tim Taylor.
Summer packages contain tinned goods, pasta, toiletries, and household essentials, sized to suit each household. At Christmas, the packages are expanded to include festive treats and special gifts for children.
Pupils and staff reflect on the impact
Year 9 pupil Tibby, who took part for the second year, said: "This is the second year I have done this and I hope to do it every year. I feel really good knowing that I have helped families who need it. It can be really stressful getting everything together, but it feels amazing once it's done because you know it is going to make such a difference for somebody. It's great how many of my peers get involved by donating things, but we can always do with more support because every donation helps."
The project was introduced by Jan Woolley, who saw families struggling to put food on the table and wanted to create a lasting support network within the school community. A generous £1,000 contribution from a school supplier helped fund the project this year.
Growing need and school-wide involvement
Jan Woolley said: "This initiative grows every year and I am so pleased to see how our pupils respond and genuinely want to help. There are now more food banks in schools than there are McDonald's restaurants and that is a huge national concern. I have heard of children attending school trips with nothing more than an apple in their lunchbox because families are struggling. We want to do everything we can to make sure no child goes hungry."
She added: "During the pandemic, I found myself regularly donating to supermarket food collections. After speaking to the headteacher, I suggested that we create our own hampers for families within our own school community who we knew needed support. Six years later, we are still here making sure our children and their families know they are not alone."
Acting headteacher praises the initiative
Acting Headteacher George Hagen praised everyone who gives up their time to support the ongoing effort, noting how much the project helps young people understand and care for others. He said: "I am immensely proud of Jan, Tim and every student who gives up their time to make this initiative such a success, plus those who donate and help in their own way. The difference these hampers make to families is incredible, but they also have a lasting impact on the pupils involved. For many young people, having food in the cupboards or receiving expensive presents at Christmas is something they have never had to think about. This project helps them understand that not everyone is as fortunate and inspires them to make a real difference to the lives of others."
