Newlife selected as school charity of the year
With a new school year comes a new charity for our school to support, fulfilling our motto well beyond the precincts of the school: "Not for oneself but for all". After last year's amazing efforts to raise £11,500 for Great Ormond Street Hospital, this year the Charities Committee wanted to shed a light on some lesser-known organisations that are equally deserving of the school's support.
Students had a very diverse range of causes to consider supporting this year, ranging from: mental health support in our local area through Off the Record; a global development charity based in the UK called Practical Action; Care International - one of the oldest humanitarian aid organisations; DEBRA - the national charity for those living with a debilitating skin condition and New Life - the charity for disabled children in the UK. Students voted in their forms for their preferred charity and the majority in each form was put forward. The vote was remarkably close this year and all charities received several votes, showing that the Wilson’s community cares about a diverse range of issues.
In the end, the charity Wilson's will be supporting is Newlife for this academic year! Newlife is a charity that supports children and young people living with disabilities or life-limiting conditions, ensuring they are not denied everyday opportunities such as going to school, playing, or being independent. Unlike traditional fundraising, Newlife encourages active involvement through creativity, teamwork, and fun, giving people the chance to make a real difference. Across the UK, many families wait months or even years for essential equipment like wheelchairs or supportive beds — needs that Newlife often meets within days. Their work not only provides vital equipment but also restores dignity, independence, and hope.
Each year group was then given a presentation about Newlife in their assemblies from the Charities Committee, exploring a bit more about how Newlife directly impacts the lives of disabled children and families in the UK and hopefully inspiring the student body to get involved in more charity events across the school year.
We are excited to present the return of the Great Wilson's Bake Off on Monday, 17 November as our first event raising money for Newlife. Wilson's best bakers will showcase their signature bakes, maybe a few technical challenges and definitely some showstoppers. All students are encouraged to bring in a cake or purchase cake at the bake sale, and we cannot wait to see what creations people bring in! This is just the first of many so stay tuned for some even more awesome events from the committee this year!
Article written by Arjun (Year 13)