School spreads goodwill with hampers, hot meals and hands-on kindness
Pupils and staff at The Olive School, Birmingham, came together to support local charities and vulnerable members of the community.
Donations of gifts and essential items were lovingly put together to create hampers for a range of charities, with each school year group focusing on a specific cause. Reception pupils prepared cheerful hampers for elderly residents at a local care home, while pupils from Years 1 and 2 contributed bright and thoughtful gifts for the children at Zoë's Place Baby Hospice – a charity that supports babies and young children who have complex illnesses or disabilities.
The school's Year 3 cohort were keen to celebrate the courage and commitment of key workers who keep the community safe by delivering thoughtful gift hampers to the Fire Service. Sharing their gratitude, the pupils' generous gesture was a heartwarming way to shine a spotlight on those who protect and serve, spreading smiles, thanks, and seasonal spirit in equal measure.
Years 4 and 5 focused their efforts on supporting residents at the Birmingham Crisis Centre, with Year 6 turning their attention to supporting people experiencing homelessness. Through donations of bedding and essential items to St Basils – a charity and housing association supporting young people aged 16–25 who are homeless, vulnerable, or at risk – their generosity provided warmth, care, and practical support during the colder months.
The school spread further warmth this season by holding two successful samosa sales to raise additional funds, before linking with Crystal Plaza to prepare hundreds of hot meals for people experiencing homelessness. The delivery of the Winter Gift Programme was guided and supported throughout by the school’s Parent Shura, whose hands-on involvement helped ensure every gift and hamper spread warmth and cheer to those who needed it most.
Rifat Batool, Principal at The Olive School, Birmingham said: “This winter our pupils have shown real thoughtfulness and generosity, creating hampers, gifts and hot meals that brought warmth and comfort to people across our community. Each year group embraced their chosen charity with genuine care, and with the support of our Parent Shura, their efforts have helped elderly residents, young children, key workers and those experiencing homelessness feel supported and remembered at a difficult time of year. Their compassion and willingness to take meaningful action has been truly heartening to see.”
The Winter Gift Programme is an annual campaign which sees pupils and staff from every Star Academies school unite to participate in a broad range of charitable giving, acts of kindness and volunteering; all with one simple aim – to make sure no one faces the challenges of winter alone.
