Latest from Ipswich School

The Latest at ipswich school

Charity fundraising update

Entrepreneurs across the globe in low income countries, children with cleft palates, children receiving hospice care and survivors of sexual abuse and sexual violence in the local area have all benefitted from the fundraising efforts of Ipswich School pupils this year.

In our last week of term we can announce that:

• A concert by members of the Stage Band and Big Band, alongside Ipswich Musicians’ Union raised £803 for EACH (East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice)

• Loans totalling £2,049 have supported business development through our innovative link with Lendwithcare

• Our £2,086 will help Survivors in Transition develop new support programmes for young people

• The fundraising for Operation Smile led by MedSoc students smashed their target, raising £2532 to help the charity carry out operations on children with cleft palates.

Lend with care

The Michaelmas Term saw the new work with Lendwithcare, where each tutor group raised money to be able to make micro loans to entrepreneurs in low income countries, to help them develop their businesses. In total, Ipswich School made 86 loans, helped 133 entrepreneurs and created 80 jobs. With our help, Thuy in Vietnam has been able to invest in new fishing nets, Chhoun in Cambodia has acquired an extra hectare of rice paddy to increase his rice production, Fayaz in Lahore, Pakistan has been able to make repairs to his rickshaw which he drives to earn a living and to provide for his family and Dona in Ecuador has used her loan to buy fertiliser and seed for her micro-enterprise where she grows broccoli, lettuce, cabbage and cauliflower. Once the loans are repaid, we can use the money to make further loans in the future.

Survivors in transition

In the Lent Term, the charity choice vote and link with Suffolk Community Foundation meant we were raising money for local Suffolk charity Survivors in Transition. The chief executive and co-founder Fiona Ellis visited Ipswich School to meet Mr Weaver and said afterwards: “On behalf of everyone at Survivors In Transition, I extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation of £2,086. Your commitment to supporting our cause and helping survivors who access our services is truly inspiring.” The funds from Ipswich School will be used to help fund the start of a new digital therapies initiative for young people.

Operation Smile

Throughout the year, MedSoc students have carried out fundraising activities including a cake sale, 26 mile sponsored walk and a 60km run as the first school to link with Operation Smile. The aim was two-fold: to raise money to help fund cleft palate operations overseas, and also to give the pupils a chance to challenge themselves to work together on something now, as teamwork is so important whether they want to be a doctor, vet or dentist. Mr Calver, Deputy Head of Sixth Form said: “I am so proud of the engagement of the students this year as we became the only school in the UK to work with Operation Smile and become their guinea pigs in developing a template for other schools to get involved. The enthusiasm of the students was first rate and their feedback and insight have been invaluable to the charity. Smashing our target of £1500 was amazing and the next batch of students are already looking at ways that we can eclipse the money raised next year. Keep a look out for upcoming events from September.”

Jonathan Spees from Operation Smile visited the students at the end of the year to hear how the fundraising had gone and meet the new students who will be involved with the charity next year. He said: “As a pilot for Operation Smile’s Student Programme, Ipswich School and all of the students that participated did an excellent job. I could not have asked for a more enthusiastic group, and I was so impressed with how eagerly they threw themselves into each task. Whether it was taking part in our empathy seminar, or hiking a marathon, or even running 60km, the students approached every challenge and opportunity with a positive outlook, and a desire to make real change happen for the people that Operation Smile work with. In total, this spectacular group of young people raised more than £2500, enough to perform almost 20 surgeries for patients that need this life changing operation, and that is just the beginning. I was so honoured to be able to work with this group of students, and I can’t wait to see how they progress with Operation Smile and beyond!”

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Ipswich School Sport
Aaliyah Grant

Cross Country Report

The first race of the Suffolk schools cross country championship was held on the last Thursday of the half term, on the familiar course at

Read More »