The charities chosen were Cancer Research UK, Water Aid, Parkinson’s UK, Home-Start Shropshire and Newport Cottage Care Centre. 

The week started early for a bleary-eyed team of our Wolverhampton students who decided to forego the school bus and set off at 2am to walk from Tettenhall to walk to school. It was a cold, windy and dark start along the Shropshire Union canal, with one student just about managing to avoid a swimming session with the still-sleeping ducks, but still managing to get very wet and muddy! 

Once they hit Gnosall, they turned off down the old railway track, keeping the school updated with their progress, as well as BBC Radio Shropshire and BBC Radio West Midlands who were following their walk on their news. They finally arrived to school at 10.25am after covering 20 in tough conditions.

The walkers chose to raise money in support of Cancer Research. Their target was to raise £1,000 with two participants promising to shave their heads if the target was reached. With an incredible £5,674.26 raised for this activity alone, they of course followed through on their promise!

To donate to the walkers campaign, please follow the link:

Wolves Bus Walk 2023 (cancerresearchuk.org)

The whole week was taken up with other fundraising activities - there was a themed mufti day for each day including pyjamas, favourite fictional characters, cultural clothing and "Dress to Impress". Students and parents baked cakes and samosa to sell.

Appeals were held to donate unwanted football shirts to Glad's House, a charity that supports street children in Kenya (it's not too late to send yours in if you have any) and the library collected 470kg of books to donate to Oxfam. Loose change was collected by each house in water bottles in reception on behalf of WaterAid, with Sa'adu raising the most at £116.20. 

The music department held a concert to raise money for Newport Cottage Care Centre showcasing talented soloists as well as the Taiko drummers, the Show Band and some smaller ensembles. The £925 raised will help the elderly and people with dementia by giving them a place to come in the day to do have care, company and do activities.

Charities week is such an important part of the school calendar to teach the students about the importance of philanthropy and of course to have fun!