First Give gets a whole year group engaging in social action. Our aim is to encourage students to tap into what issues and causes they care about and give them the autonomy and agency to help in whatever way they want. This is exactly what happened at John Fisher School at the end of the term in 2021.
The boys supported a variety of charities, covering all sorts of social issues. Rays of Sunshine took home the £1,000 First Give Final grant, to help their mission to support terminally ill children live happier lives. Classes focusing on mental health chose Croydon Mind and The Matthew Trust. One class wanted to discuss the issues of gang violence and knife crime, so they chose to support Lives Not Knives – a charity we see supported a lot during First Give. StopWatch was chosen by one class to address the less-discussed issue of police stop and search powers being used disproportionately on marginalised communities. Homelessness was also chosen as a social issue of concern, with students supporting the very local charity Sutton Night Watch.
The charity that won had a very special place in the hearts of the John Fisher boys. Rays of Sunshine was chosen to commemorate former John Fisher student Joe Lunn who devastatingly passed in March 2021, on his 19th birthday, from terminal cancer. Rays of Sunshine supported Joe and his family during his illness and the students wanted to give back.
The year 9 students knew Joe as he was a recognised name – he was a gifted sportsman, prevalent in his community and even volunteered at JFS after he’d finished school when he was still fit and able. Joe took part in social action himself, cycling 100 miles to raise funds for Rays of Sunshine! He also signed up to do the London Marathon in October 2021, but passed away before having the opportunity to run.
The class supporting Rays of Sunshine had personal contact with the charity, through email and phone calls. Their social action included a basketball game – a subtle nod to Joe’s sportiness – as well as interviewing a member of staff. The charity said “we are so grateful to the students for selecting us and for working so hard to carry out their social action”.
The wonderful Lead Teacher at JFS, John, told us “all the boys worked so hard the whole way through. We’re trying to become more community-focused and get the boys to understand that what is happening in your local community is really important. First Give is incredibly valuable to the school, and more so, to the boys.”
But, for John and the students, “it felt like there wasn’t just one winner, there were a few.” It materialised the Headteacher and SLT on the judging panel had never heard of the charities StopWatch and Sutton Night Watch. Swayed by the fantastic presentations by the students, the SLT and school council decided to support these ‘great causes’ through other charity fundraising initiatives in the school such as mufti days. StopWatch don’t take public donations, so the schools’ support was particularly valued.
“It was only because of the First Give programme that this happened, that the students bought these charities to our attention”. The Headteacher, Mr McCullagh, explained: “‘Service to others’ and the building of ‘community’ are at the heart of our school’s mission. First Give not only instils the importance of ‘charity’ but helps create a thirst amongst our young people to take action. The aims of First Give are closely aligned with our Christian and shared values which is why this has been such a successful partnership. Together, we will continue to work for the needs of the most vulnerable.”
What a programme 2020-21 was for John Fisher! We cannot wait to see what impact the boys have in their community this year.
John Fisher is a long-standing partner school, and their programme is generously funded by the Jack Petchey Foundation.