This year, during Advent, our students came up with some lovely ideas of ways to bring light and hope to those in the community.

Advent is a time to think about hope, joy and light in dark times. Our Student Council, Ambassadors, the Foundation Learning Department, the Cafod Young Leaders and other groups in college explored the idea of sharing hope with those who need it most. They came up with 5 ways for staff and students to get involved either individually, with family members or as a class or department.

Firstly, they collected food bank donations to support local food banks and our own college food bank.

Secondly, they offered support to those facing homelessness in the Philippines. Our Geography Department and Student Council felt they wanted to support the typhoon disaster through Cafod World Gifts.

Thirdly, many classes in college have been reaching out to local residents is through messages of hope in a Christmas card.

Fourthly, we ran our annual Shoebox Project again through the Rotary Interact Group. Many thanks to all those who have filled shoeboxes with items for a child in Eastern Europe.

Finally, we had ‘Pounds for PJs’. The Cafod team have been in touch with our local refugee support group who are fundraising for Pyjamas for local refugee children. Some of our classes even wore PJs to college themselves in exchange for donations!

It’s been quite challenging his year with all the restrictions in place, but they have done a fantastic job and we have been overwhelmed by the incredible generosity of all our staff and students.

‘Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.’ Romans 1212