The OVS School Council supports Foundation Derbyshire and makes an annual grant to local groups. This fund has been established so that the School Council at OVS are now secure to do this in perpetuity.
Charity Fundraising
The school also supports other national charities such as JDRF, Debra, Comic Relief, Children in Need, NSPCC as well as others. Since the last inspection the children have raised money for charities including Derbyshire Community Foundation, St Augustine’s School in Arusha, Royal British Legion (Poppies), Sport Relief, Comic Relief, Children in Need, Mencap, Christian Aid, Operation Christmas Child and The Padley Homeless Shelter.
Our School Council leads neighbourhood litter picks, participates in traffic surveys and regularly suggests local charity initiatives within the Darley Abbey community. Many pupils are involved in community performances to the local Sight Loss Group for example, or local residential homes.
St Augustine School, Arusha, Tanzania
OVS has a long established cultural and educational link with St. Augustine’s Primary School in Sakina, Arusha, Tanzania through a local Derby organisation called ‘Project Arusha’. The school has organised ‘Arusha Day’ fundraising activities and has so far, raised money through cake sales and other events, providing needed items such as school furniture, mosquito nets, ICT equipment, clothing, school resources and child sponsorship. The children have become pen pals. The next stage is to use the donated ICT equipment to have Skype contact, when this is set up sufficiently in Sakina.
We host guests from the community in Sakina connected to the school to attend our Prize Giving Ceremony at the end of the school year. We intend to develop this relationship, including raising money to support their school and its needs. As a community we do all we can to support St. Augustine’s. However it is our firm belief that our children can learn a huge amount through their interaction with the delightful children in Sakina.
Visiting Speakers
We are also privileged to welcome distinguished guests to the School to speak to and meet with the children. These inspirational people have often achieved excellence in a particular field and can pass on their knowledge and experiences. Visiting speakers present to the children throughout the school year.
