This year pupils and staff will be running the Steeplechase to raise funds for our school charity, Asylum Welcome.

Asylum Welcome offers information, advice and practical support to asylum seekers, refugees and vulnerable migrants living in Oxfordshire. There are now 80 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, of which 26 million are refugees. A staggering 40% of these refugees are children. The war in Ukraine has brought with it a fresh wave of people in urgent need of the help and expertise provided by Asylum Welcome. Many local families have opened their doors to Ukranians and so we have witness first-hand their expertise and support.

Over the past year Teddies staff and pupils have worked closely with Asylum Welcome on a number of partnership initiatives including:

•  Welcoming Afghan families to the school for food and activities with our pupils
• Creating Christmas present boxes for Oxfordshire's most vulnerable refugees
• Hosting evenings for teenage Ukrainian refugees, including social events with our pupils and English lessons in the classroom with our teachers
• Refugee Youth football matches and socials with Teddies' footballers
  

We look forward to continuing our close partnership with Asylum Welcome and would ask you to please give what you can to support the work of this wonderful charity.