This Half Term, Year 5 are completing their Community Action Project, ‘Caring at Christmas’. This project aims to raise awareness of difficulties that can be experienced by older people, particularly concerning loneliness, and how this can be exacerbated at Christmas - this year more than any other.

 As part of this project, Year 5 are fundraising to support Link Age Southwark, as voted for by the students.

 Link Age Southwark are a local charity whose motto is, “no older person should feel lonely.” The charity provides volunteer support to over 700 older people in Southwark. Their services reduce loneliness and isolation, improve older people's quality of life, their physical and mental health, and enable older people to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.

 To raise donations, the Year 5 boys will be providing a Santa’s Little Helper sponsorship service. They will complete odd jobs and chores around their homes, in return for a small amount of sponsorship. The boys have come up with lots of ideas in class for how they can help out, including –

• Changing the bedding
• Cleaning the kitchen
• Hoovering
• Washing the car
• Raking up leaves in the garden

 We want the boys to aim to be as helpful as possible rather than focusing on the amount of money raised, so the more jobs they complete, the better!

 As well as the sponsored Santa’s Little Helper, the Year 5 students will be making cards and letters to send to residents of local care homes. They will also be creating and hosting a charity Christmas quiz for the other Junior School students.