Field House Continue to Support First Days Children’s’ Charity

On Thursday 25th March, Jakki Marr, Field Housemistress and Chavelli Brewster, Fryer House Manager, joined Charlotte, Thomas and Emma in the Upper Sixth, for a visit to First Day’s HQ.

The children’s charity based in Wokingham, was grateful to receive a large donation of toys, baby equipment, books, school uniform, towels and bedding, after Field first filled their festive stockings over the Christmas period and domestic staff began to organise the donation of clean duvets destined for the tip.

Chavelli, who recently joined the junior boarding team in the Spring Term, was delighted to get involved, collecting a number of toys and baby equipment to donate. She reflected “Doing charity work ties into the narrative of the community family. We live in society that is built on capitalism and individuality. This is not bad per se, but in a world where the individual strives for success, charity builds a legacy of community. Active citizenship is not about playing the hero and patting yourself on the back, it is about taking responsibility and ownership of one’s community family. Once we inculcate these values within our students, we can rest assure that whatever challenges we face in the future, we will face it together.”

Chavelli continued, “Just around the corner of our family home in Suriname, there is an orphanage. I remember growing up and having many of the children passing by my grandmother’s house for a meal or just simply to have a conversation. Even though most of them have grown up now, some still pass by and help my grandmother with chores, groceries and just to keep her company. Her home was their place of comfort. It was stability. I realised early on that some parents go through some real difficulties to provide for their children. If I can support a mom or dad in raising their child, I will always do my utmost best.”

After helping to load and unload the school mini-bus with the large assortment of items for First Day’s, the group was excited to be shown around the facility, speak to the team about the work the organisation does and see how they were helping to support this.

Charlotte in the Upper Sixth commented “We really enjoyed visiting the new site for the First Day’s charity and seeing everything they do for the less privileged members of our local community.”

Jakki commented “The students were very happy to hear how our small efforts can help others less fortunate. Since Christmas, the charity has moved to larger premises where they have more space to store items. Most items do not stay for long, due to high demand in the area; they are checked by the wonderful volunteers and then quickly passed over to grateful parents who are very much in need.

First Day’s is a practical charity; they do not ask for money, but items in good condition that other families, who are struggling financially, can benefit from. It is a privilege for us to be involved. Our charity storage room in Field House is starting to fill up again but more donations are always welcome!”