COMMUNITY Panto raises £9,200 for town charities
Market proves to be a festive hit
The production of Rapunzel at the School’s EM Forster Theatre was an outstanding success, beating box office records and attracting five-star reviews from critics and audiences. Donations were taken for two local charities throughout the year, both online and after panto performances. More than £9,200 was raised for the Tonbridge Lions Club and Rotary Club of Tonbridge. Both charities received their donations at a special presentation at the Theatre.
The front of the School was transformed into a seasonal fresh fruit and vegetable market just before Christmas, as part of our Shop to Share food donation scheme. The all-day market, run by School volunteers, supported local disadvantaged families in preparation for the festive period. For a £1 donation, guests were able to fill their bags with enough fresh produce for their families to help them enjoy a Christmas feast. More than a hundred local families attended, with more than 400 adults and children coming on site. l Over the past year tonnes of food from the School kitchens have been donated to the Sustain Food Bank in Tonbridge, and regular food collections continued throughout the pandemic.
Huge response to annual Toy Appeal The School’s Christmas Toy and Gift Appeal managed to support more children and families than ever before. Donations of toys, books, games and a range of other gifts by Tonbridge parents, boys and staff went to disadvantaged children in the local community. More than 500 children, from 189 families, were referred to the scheme by Kent County Council’s Social Services and Early Help teams, as well as by charities, churches and primary schools.
In the Lent Term, 50 of the School’s Tonbridge Community Action boys completed British Heart Foundation training in CPR and use of a defibrillator. The boys also heard a first-hand account of when this skill really does save lives. l Sixty Tonbridge Community Action boys are now ‘Dementia Friends’, thanks to a training session run by the Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells Dementia Friendly Community. The School will be running more projects in this area later in the year.
