FRIENDS OF BELHAM
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Friends of Belham (FoB) is run by school parents and guardians to organise events that bring the school community together, and to raise funds that support the school and enhance the education of all pupils.
All parents and guardians are automatically members of FoB, as are teachers and non-teaching staff. We have a committee of elected volunteer trustees who run the admin side of things, as we are a registered charity. Class representatives help to organise and run events, communicate with their year groups, and help to make decisions at meetings. Our meetings are open to all. |
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If you have an idea for an event, a skill to offer, or just want to get involved, please do get in touch at friendsofbelham@gmail.com, or speak to any committee member or class rep.
We communicate through weekly 'Friends' Friendly' newsletters that are circulated with the school's Belham Buzz; find these on the News page. We also use the WhatsApp groups that every school year has to spread the word. We don’t run the groups but contact us if you wish to join the group for your children’s year(s).
Friends of Belham is a registered charity, number 1168767. The committee are the trustees of the charity and are elected annually by the members at an AGM. The constitution, accounts, and annual reports may be requested for inspection by any member.
We communicate through weekly 'Friends' Friendly' newsletters that are circulated with the school's Belham Buzz; find these on the News page. We also use the WhatsApp groups that every school year has to spread the word. We don’t run the groups but contact us if you wish to join the group for your children’s year(s).
Friends of Belham is a registered charity, number 1168767. The committee are the trustees of the charity and are elected annually by the members at an AGM. The constitution, accounts, and annual reports may be requested for inspection by any member.
OUR NEWS AND EVENTS
FOB’s ACTIVITIES IN THE 2019/20 SCHOOL YEAR
Fun and Fundraising
Thank you to everyone who has attended, supported, organised and volunteered at an FoB event this year. It’s been a strange one, with everything we’d hoped to do since March cancelled due to Covid-19. But we’ve been blessed that FoB worked so hard and the school community gave so generously in the past, meaning we had reserves to draw on to help the school with their short term needs and longer term plans.
The previous committee went out with a bang, pulling together a very successful autumn term and Christmas fair, with cycling at Herne Hill Velodrome, Halloween face painting, Christmas cards, Christmas trees and a cake sale too! The new committee took over in December, and we were delighted to welcome so many of you to the Disco and the Quiz in February before the world turned upside-down.
In the summer term, we made a decision not to pursue fundraising for general FoB funds while many of us are dealing with reduced incomes and increased demands on our time and attention. However we did manage to see the school year out with the Belham Window Hunt.
When we are all back at school in September we’ll be working to welcome new families, bring the school community together in ways physical or virtual, pick up fundraising again for new initiatives, and celebrate our first cohort of school leavers in a year’s time!
How the funds are being used
This year we have agreed to fund the following requests from school, though some will have to wait until coronavirus restrictions are relaxed:
We have agreed to fund new library areas in every classroom, to support the school in a big push on reading and literacy, and these facilities will undoubtedly be even more valuable as coronavirus affects how pupils are able to move around the school.
We’re delighted to be able to fund the school’s membership of Peckham Citizens for the next academic year. Being a member will involve the school in community activism across Peckham and London, working together with other institutions to make positive change, and develop Belhamites into (even more!) active citizens.
The Lane garden along the Bellenden Road pavement is now bursting with trees and plants. This project was made possible by the hard work and amazing fundraising of you all. Unfortunately the pupils haven’t been able to use it this year due to scaffolding erected to protect everyone from a dodgy Victorian drainpipe, but on the plus side the plants have all had a really good chance to grow undisturbed, and the Lane will be even more resilient once children are able to play in there. Labels for plant identification and other features will be completed once access is possible.
Thanks again to our school community, and to the amazing teachers and staff for all they have done during the Covid crisis.
Fun and Fundraising
Thank you to everyone who has attended, supported, organised and volunteered at an FoB event this year. It’s been a strange one, with everything we’d hoped to do since March cancelled due to Covid-19. But we’ve been blessed that FoB worked so hard and the school community gave so generously in the past, meaning we had reserves to draw on to help the school with their short term needs and longer term plans.
The previous committee went out with a bang, pulling together a very successful autumn term and Christmas fair, with cycling at Herne Hill Velodrome, Halloween face painting, Christmas cards, Christmas trees and a cake sale too! The new committee took over in December, and we were delighted to welcome so many of you to the Disco and the Quiz in February before the world turned upside-down.
In the summer term, we made a decision not to pursue fundraising for general FoB funds while many of us are dealing with reduced incomes and increased demands on our time and attention. However we did manage to see the school year out with the Belham Window Hunt.
When we are all back at school in September we’ll be working to welcome new families, bring the school community together in ways physical or virtual, pick up fundraising again for new initiatives, and celebrate our first cohort of school leavers in a year’s time!
How the funds are being used
This year we have agreed to fund the following requests from school, though some will have to wait until coronavirus restrictions are relaxed:
- New library areas in every classroom (c. £5000) - see below
- Workbooks and exercise books for every pupil at start of lockdown (£2144)
- Food and stationery vouchers for a number of our pupils who needed the extra help at the start of lockdown (£1340)
- Peckham Citizens membership (£1000 pa) - see below
- An ongoing commitment to fund extra before-school sports practices (c.£1500pa)
- Swimming caps in house colours (£632)
- Plants to help indoor air quality (£335)
- A theatre trip for the whole school (£2000)
- Coaching for children in conflict management (£2000)
- Extra reading passport books (£1200)
- Props and licences for school performances (£2000)
- Improvements to the Copleston growing garden (£500)
We have agreed to fund new library areas in every classroom, to support the school in a big push on reading and literacy, and these facilities will undoubtedly be even more valuable as coronavirus affects how pupils are able to move around the school.
We’re delighted to be able to fund the school’s membership of Peckham Citizens for the next academic year. Being a member will involve the school in community activism across Peckham and London, working together with other institutions to make positive change, and develop Belhamites into (even more!) active citizens.
The Lane garden along the Bellenden Road pavement is now bursting with trees and plants. This project was made possible by the hard work and amazing fundraising of you all. Unfortunately the pupils haven’t been able to use it this year due to scaffolding erected to protect everyone from a dodgy Victorian drainpipe, but on the plus side the plants have all had a really good chance to grow undisturbed, and the Lane will be even more resilient once children are able to play in there. Labels for plant identification and other features will be completed once access is possible.
Thanks again to our school community, and to the amazing teachers and staff for all they have done during the Covid crisis.
OUR COMMITTEE
Each of our elected committee members is also a class rep and happy to answer any questions.
Eve Petcher
Co-chair |
Adam Scott
Co-chair |
Hannah Cleaton-Roberts
Secretary |
Shaun Kirby
Treasurer |
CLASS REPS
Members can speak to any of our volunteer class reps for information on FoB events and fundraising.
YEAR 1
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Felt
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Wool
Debbie John
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YEAR 2
Cotton |
Linen
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Fleur Johnson
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YEAR 3
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Velvet
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Silk
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Christabel Daugherty
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YEAR 4
Tweed |
Corduroy
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Cathy Sophocli
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Cassie Dormer
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Caroline Thomson
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YEAR 5
Satin
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Ginnie Kelly (Bridgstock)
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Harriet Bailey
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Julia Parfitt
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YEAR 6
Denim
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Eve Petcher
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Libby Sarsfield
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CONTACT US
Email FriendsofBelham@gmail.com or speak to one of our committee members.
We'd love to collect a list of skills and equipment, professional and amateur, that could be drawn upon for our events - everything from face painters to access to a van, from musicians to carpenters and bakers - please drop us an email if you can help in any way.
We'd love to collect a list of skills and equipment, professional and amateur, that could be drawn upon for our events - everything from face painters to access to a van, from musicians to carpenters and bakers - please drop us an email if you can help in any way.
OUR MEETINGS
Minutes of all Friends of Belham meetings can be downloaded below: