Volunteering and supporting local community groups

We are involved with numerous outreach activities within the local community. 

Supporting a number of local Scout groups in ways that include the loan of school minibuses for trips and outings. 

Six of our lower sixth formers have also taken part in a youth enterprise project to raise money and awareness for St Catherine's Hospice. Pupils raised over £3,500 through arranging a film night, lower school disco, raffle, Krispy Kreme donut sale and a non-uniform day.

Fourth form students worked hard at Welcare in East Surrey, a local children's centre. They also organised food bank donations, painted signs, cleaned and prepared toys for the children to enjoy, and supported organisers with other tasks as required.

Pupils from RGS have performed Guys and Dolls at the Eversfield Care Home.

To raise awareness among RGS pupils aged 11-18 about food poverty in the local area, we provided food for Loveworks' foodbank at Christmas for their hampers.

A member of the Reigate Grammar School staff community volunteers to support the supervision and assessment of Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme candidates at all levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. The project is an ongoing, frequent, and continuous partnership.

During the pandemic, staff from RGS teamed up with NHS Heartlands Clinical Commissioning Group to help transport vulnerable and elderly people to their Covid vaccination appointments and to deliver oximeters.

Aims

The aim is to share access to the arts with a wider section of society and also promote social cohesion.

The aim of the youth enterprise project was to raise awareness of the organisation. 

Background

In terms of the Welcare in Surrey project, this was part of the RGS Activities Week where fourth form students had a day dedicated to working with voluntary groups in the local community.

Resources

A variety of resources that include mini buses and school transport.

Frequency

Although the volunteering opportunity was a stand alone project, it is hoped that this will be the first opportunity in a developing long-term partnership between the school and Welcare in East Surrey.