Pupils abandoned their lessons on the penultimate day of term, to produce shoebox gifts for the babies, children and young people under the support and care of the Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.
The charity cares for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families. ‘Whether lives are measured in days, weeks, months, or years, we’re here to make every moment count’ Shooting Star Children’s Hospices. They provide an extensive range of counselling, therapies and support groups for the whole family including parents, siblings and grandparents.
They support over 700 brothers and sisters with dedicated sibling groups. Other groups they run include grandparents day, family workshops on how to help siblings and for those new to the service, pamper days, bereaved men’s group and chill and chat groups. A range of creative therapies including music therapy, art therapy and dramatherapy, offered in a safe and secure space help children to find new ways to express themselves.
This December, Year 4 pupils from Danes Hill School continued their long association with ‘Shooting Star Children’s Hospices and spent their charity afternoon preparing the shoebox gifts. A representative from the charity, Sarah May, visited Danes Hill School earlier in the term and explained all about the work the charity undertakes. Pupils had a virtual tour of the hospices and the guest speaker explained to the children how their shoebox efforts will help.
One of the Year 4 pupils said, ‘it is important for my school to support charities like the Shooting Star Children’s Hospices. I went to deliver the shoeboxes with my classmates, and it was exciting to meet some of the volunteers and to place the gifts under the tree for the children to open on Christmas Day’.
The charity reached out on social media to thank those who have helped the charity this December, ‘Thank you to Njinga Cycling, Danes Hill School, Hogsback Chapter, Custodians MC England, London Irish Rugby Club, Urban & Grey, Spin Master and everyone else who has dropped off Christmas presents and spread some festive cheer at our hospices over the last few weeks’.
Maxine Shaw, Head at Danes Hill school commented, ‘the Year 4 pupil’s kindness and thoughtfulness was showcased in Wednesday’s charities afternoon, they were devoted to creating the very best shoebox gifts for the children. We are proud to support charities like Shooting Star Children’s Hospices who do so much for so many families and children’.