Charity Christmas Hampers with Mrs Teece

As the festive season approaches, Coopers Coborn has once again shown its heart-warming commitment to helping those in need. This year, the school’s Charity Coordinator, Mrs. Teece, and students have been working hard to raise money and gather donations for several worthy causes, culminating in the annual Christmas Hamper appeal.

Mrs. Teece, who has been leading charity efforts at Coopers for the past 13 months, shared her excitement for this aspect of her role. “It’s my favourite part of my job at Coopers,” she said. “Throughout the term, we’ve come together as a school community to raise money and participate in various charity events.”

The generosity of Coopers students and staff has been truly inspiring. The school raised £449 for the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal, with pupils sewing poppies and selling them. The Teacher Karaoke event, organized by the Christian Union, raised £400 for Zarach. Additionally, £1,400 was raised for Movember charities through staff growing facial hair and running 10k, while students contributed by sewing and selling moustache pins. Year 11 also raised an incredible £3,500 for The Bow Party and the Christmas Hamper appeal.

The Hamper appeal, which began as a small initiative, has grown into a whole-school project that has already made a significant impact. Initially, Year 7 students were asked to fill one hamper each for people in need. However, the project has expanded over the years, with this year's effort supporting 12 different grantees, including the residents of Coopers Court (assisted living accommodation), Whitechapel Mission (a shelter for the homeless in East London), Havering Association for People with Disabilities (H.A.D), The Besom projects, and the Harold Hill Food Bank. This year, the school community came together to donate a wide range of items, and the impact has been incredible. “Whitechapel Mission serves breakfast for up to 450 people every day,” Mrs. Teece explained. “We were able to donate breakfast items like baked beans, tea, coffee, jam, Nutella, and marmalade to support their efforts.”

Students also had the opportunity to learn more about the charity process, with some visiting Harold Hill Food Bank last year to see how it operates. Another visit is scheduled for the last week of term to donate the remainder of the food collected during the appeal. In the spirit of giving, the school will also host a Christmas Jumper and Non-Uniform Day on December 19th. The £2 contribution from pupils on this day will go directly to the Harold Hill Food Bank to further support its mission. Mrs. Teece praised the school’s efforts: “The pupils have done a sterling job of generously donating goods, and it’s a testament to their kindness and dedication that we are able to help so many people and organizations this Christmas.”

The Christmas Hamper appeal is a reminder of the power of community and the difference we can make when we come together to support others during the holiday season.

By Angelina Pozdnii