Students at Bedales School have reached their goal of raising £3000 for four local charities following the success of a charity fashion show they organised which contributed £435 towards their target.
The fashion show was completely student led and featured key pieces made by students from their A Level and Bedales Assessed Course (BAC) projects as well as interesting items from the drama department wardrobe. Deputy Fashion Editor of The Times, Carolyn Asome, was a key speaker at the event.
The four charities to benefit from the students' efforts are: The Elizabeth Foundation, which provides a wide range of services and education programmes for pre-school deaf children and their parents / carers; Canine Partners, a charity providing trained guidance dogs for people with disabilities; Sussex Snowdrop Trust, providing care at home for children who have a life-threatening illness or who may be terminally ill; and Enable Ability, which looks after the care, welfare and advancement of disabled people.
This initiative was set-up by Bedales Block 4 students (Year 10) following their participation in The Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI). The YPI project involved students identifying a social cause they wished to support, and then lobbying for their chosen charity in a competitive pitching process to win a £3000 donation.
Following that experience the students decided to repeat the process for four charities that did not win the YPI prize but this time they would raise the £3000 themselves.
Commenting on the students’ charitable work, Keith Budge, Bedales Headmaster, said: “I am impressed with the students’ commitment to this project. Having learnt more about the crucial role charities play in helping people facing difficulties or hardship, our students wanted to do more to help. By participating in philanthropic initiatives, Bedales students are developing valuable life skills, making a positive contribution to society and broadening their own horizons and, above all, making a material difference to these wonderful charities.”