Day: 17 December 2021

Students at Churston Ferrers Grammar School have raised £539.86 for Devon Wildlife Trust. 

“We would like to acknowledge the brilliant effort from our year 12 students: Holly, Daisy, Scarlett, Liam, Emma and Emmie in organising this event and securing its success for such a worthy cause.” Co-Sustainability Coordinator Jo Hadley

The school held a sustainable non-uniform day to coincide with the last day of the CoOP26 summit in Glasgow, where students were encouraged to attend school in something recycled, upcycled or otherwise environmentally friendly. The original idea came from the Student Presidential Team, and the students selected the Wildlife Trust to benefit from the money as a local environmental charity.

“Whilst it is important to address the global climate emergency and associated biodiversity crisis, supporting local charities helps our students to understand the potential impacts closer to home, notably the impact of climate change on Devon’s wildlife species.” Co-Lead Dr Ben King

Sustainability, alongside Social Justice and Active Citizenship, is one of Churston’s three core values, and is an area that the school is seeking to actively promote and develop as part of the school’s contribution to tackling the climate emergency and the ecological crisis.

The Trust said, “thanks to donations like these the Devon Wildlife Trust can take practical action to secure the future of some of Devon’s rarest and most threatened wildlife, and care for our 58 nature reserves.”

“The school has a long standing relationship with the Devon Wildlife Trust, and we greatly appreciate valued the work they did with the school and its partners over many years” Deputy Headteacher David Lewis

We dropped all of the food off at PATH yesterday and they were extremely grateful for the 20 boxes of food and other donations that Churston had put together. We dropped off the food at 4:45pm and there were already a number of people collecting much needed parcels as well as a queue of people waiting for their hot takeaway meals which PATH prepares from donations everyday.

From Christmas Eve until New Year PATH is the only food bank open in Torquay but the need for help doesn’t stop so Cath and the rest of their team pass on many thanks to everyone at Churston. Cath told us how PATH is supporting so many who are on the verge of homelessness and how so many families rely on the support of the food banks and other support charities in Torbay. Cath emphasised how the small donations from individuals mean so much more to those who receive them.

Many young children have never had Santa visit or presents delivered at Christmas because their family can barely provide the bare minimum amount of food to stop their family going hungry. Therefore the donations from Churston will be used to form Christmas hampers, meals and food parcels that will be delivered all over the Christmas and New Year period.

Thank you for helping to organise.

Abigail