5284
hours of service offered by St John's pupils on average each year
10 +
main charities supported throughout the year
Charity
Our pupils are passionate, energetic and inventive when it comes to finding ways to support local charities and fundraise for causes they care about.
Every year pupils, staff and friends organise events to raise money for the chosen charities. A major focus of all charitable efforts is the St John’s School Eagle Community Holiday, a week-long residential holiday in the summer for 25 children with a range of special needs aged between 10 and 18.
Launched in 2014, the holiday sees our Sixth Form pupils volunteer to provide every visiting child with one-to-one care and attention, involving games, stories and activities. Many former pupils return to volunteer again, with new helpers joining every year as well. Once a child has a place on the St John’s School Eagle Community Holiday, they’re entitled to a place every year until they reach the age of 18, unless their needs outgrow our ability to care for them. As a result, the holidaymakers foster friendships with other young people and gain independence and confidence year by year.
St John’s Community Holiday 2023
Supporting the St John’s School Eagle Community Holiday
All staff and pupils involved volunteer their time. We aim to give the children as many different experiences as possible during their fun-filled week with us, and this is dependent on the amount raised each year. Any surplus funds are put towards the following year. We give our whole-hearted thanks for anything you can give towards creating wonderful memories during our Community Holiday.
Click here to visit our JustGiving Page
Throughout the year, a number of fundraising activities and events take place, such as fundraising dinners and sponsored walks. If you would like to find out more please contact Neil Whitmore, Director of Community Partnerships
In 2023, in celebration of the last decade and in honour of its St John’s roots, the Community Holiday was renamed to the St John’s School Eagle Community Holiday – where everyone can soar.
Making use of our boarding houses, the holiday offers parents and carers a week of much-needed respite safe in the knowledge that their children are being fully cared for, supported and having a fantastic time. We’re incredibly touched by the feedback we received from parents.
I feel very humble that my daughter was invited, she had an amazing time. It was very well run and I as a parent had every confidence in the staff and pupils running it. As a parent of a disabled child it allowed me to have a week to think about myself and to be able to relax, so thank you so much.
Community Service
Our thriving Community Service Unit (CSU) embodies the kindness and spirit of giving which is at the heart of St John’s.
More than half of Sixth Form pupils volunteer for weekly placements of an hour or more at one of over 20 community locations. The unofficial ethos is to leave people and places better than when they were found. Supporting local groups breaks down barriers across the ages, socio-economic groups and classes.
In March 2023, we held our first ‘Make a Difference Day’, you can read more about this by clicking here.
Community work challenges pupils to step out of their comfort zones, but in an environment where they are supported: they are never left on their own. Through the experiences, pupils enhance their interpersonal skills and increase self-confidence, learning how to handle awkward situations and manage conflict.
| Some of the ways in which pupils help out locally include: | |
|---|---|
| Playgroups | Acting as good role models for toddlers from a diverse set of backgrounds |
| Primary Schools | Listening to pupils read and acting as general helpers in local primary school classes |
| Youth Clubs | Taking part in youth clubs in the local area for teenagers and primary-school children |
| Community Football | Refereeing and helping to set up football games on a Friday night for 60 local teenagers |
| Care Homes | Bringing the atmosphere alive in the local elderly people's home every Thursday |
| Local Elderly | Gardening and befriending local residents |
| Day Centres | Teaching IT and playing chess at the local day centre in town with the active elderly |
| Leatherhead Start | Taking spare lunches every day to the local homeless night centre |
| Seeability | Supporting adults with sight loss and multiple disabilities |
| Mencap Social Club | Joining in at the Mencap social club by doing puzzles, playing ping pong and befriending |
| Epsom Hospital | Visiting and befriending patients in the elderly care wards at Epsom Hospital |
| Riding for the Disabled | Volunteering by leading horses and building riders' confidence |
| Christmas Lunch | Christmas lunch for the local elderly and disabled |
| Summer Tea | Summer cream tea for the local elderly and disabled |
| Community Holiday | Annual holiday in August for local children with mental and physical disabilities |
| Local Charities | Providing fundraising office support for local charities |
