By Mrs Cruse (Head of Years 7 and 8)

At the start of the academic year students in Year 8 formed a Committee to raise awareness and funds for the school charity FACES (Family and Children’s Early-help Services).

FACES is a local independent charity which offers practical and emotional support to families under stress. The charity supports local children and families which face difficult issues such as mental health and physical health, domestic abuse, poverty, child sexual exploitation and behavioural issues.

The Committee have organised a number of activities, including three bake sales, helping to decorate Santa’s grotto at FACES; organising the Year 7 Service afternoon; delivering a Junior School Assembly, followed by making and selling friendship bracelets, and organising a movie night. 

Over the last week and a half, they have run a campaign to collect Easter eggs and art pieces for the arts and craft sessions which FACES run for the families they support. 

The Committee have worked tirelessly to support FACES, pushing themselves out of their comfort zones, whilst developing a deep understanding of the charity’s work and embedding new skills.

The CEO of the charity FACES is very grateful for all of the work the Year 8 Committee have been putting in and is delighted with the support from the BGS community. 

Penny Adams (Year 8) said: “I love being part of the FACES Committee, you get to meet new friends and organise events. It feels very good to help others in need and motivates us to do our best to raise awareness and funds for the charity. The charity asked us recently if we could do an Easter collection and we decided to open it up to the whole school to get the best possible outcome. So far, we have had so many wonderful donations and we hope we can help those who don’t have things for this Easter.”

The FACES Committee - Penny Adams, Sophie Abdin, Riya Gautam, Molly Hyman, Avaani Katechia, Manpriya Sira and Evie-Rose Wooton