Community Action at Christ's Hospital

Community Action is an invaluable and integral part of the educational programme available to the pupils at Christ’s Hospital. The Community Service group, as it was first known, was formed by Vikki Askew and since 1990 Community Action has been organised by Muir John Potter and Graham Chandler.

Between 1987 and 2007 over 1500 pupils have been involved with Community Action activities involving over 3000 members of the local community. Our Community Action project in Romania (started in 1992) has involved over 300 Christ’s Hospital staff and pupils working with more than 1500 abandoned Romanian children with special needs.

Muir John Potter is currently seconded to work with an international charity promoting Community Action programmes in schools in Eastern Europe". He has devised and implemented a National Strategy for Community Action in schools and universities in Romania which after just 2 years has 45,000 volunteers and over 40,000 beneficiaries.

AIMS

1. Advance our knowledge and skills in vital areas of education
2. Raise the level of individual and collective consciousness and awareness concerning community needs
3. Challenge our resourcefulness, intelligence and creativity to respond to these needs
4. Acknowledge our position of advantage and accept the responsibilities that go with it
5. Provide opportunities for a wide range of pupils & teachers to engage in voluntary work

Up to 200 pupils throughout the school voluntarily participate in the Community Action programme each week. Six of these students act as co-ordinators and organisers of the Community Action programme.

Over 70 different placements are organised each week throughout the academic year for and by Christ’s Hospital students. Placements include nursery schools, primary schools, special needs schools, riding for the disabled, residential homes for the elderly, hospices and charity shops as well as an After School Club, Ready and Able Sports Club and CH Day Centre lunches.

Visits and activities take place in the afternoon 5 days a week
These visits are to Horsham, Southwater, Cowfold, Crawley and Worthing.
The school, the teachers and some local voluntary agencies in and around Horsham provide transport.

OBJECTIVES

1. Inform ourselves about local, national and international issues
2. Breakdown barriers of prejudice and ignorance
3. Involve ourselves with others who need our time and patience
4. Understand the nature of commitment
5. Integrate special schools with the community and vice versa