Students spread festive cheer with hampers for Age UK Appeal
Students from Outwood Academy Shafton have successfully taken the lead on the Age UK Christmas Hamper Appeal, creating and donating 35 festive hampers to bring comfort and joy to vulnerable older people in the local community.
The initiative was spearheaded by a small group of six dedicated students as part of their King’s Trust Award Community Impact Project.
The students sent a request to staff members across the academy asking for donations. The response was overwhelming, with staff generously contributing a wide variety of essential and festive items, including:
Non-perishable foods (jams, soups, cakes, tinned fruit, rice pudding, and custards)
Hot drinks (hot chocolate, tea, and coffee)
Toiletries and gifts (shower gels, soaps, shampoo)
To prepare the hampers for donation, the group dedicated time to wrapping the boxes, as well as focusing on personal touches such as creating individual Christmas cards and designing and decorating small boxes to hold sweets. Together, the whole group worked to carefully fill and pack the 35 completed hampers.
Reflecting on the success of the project, Sian Edwards, PLC coordinator at Outwood Academy Shafton, who led the group, commented:
“It has been an absolute pleasure to see the students getting involved with this project and packing the food hampers. Making up 35 hampers is a huge achievement and demonstrates the commitment of our students to making a positive difference in the lives of others this Christmas.”
The hampers were picked up by Age UK for immediate delivery to isolated and lonely older people in the local area.
