COURAGEOUS ADVOCACY

What is Courageous Advocacy?

A courageous advocate is someone who champions a cause which is special and meaningful to them.

At Hampsthwaite Church of England Primary School we have a strong emphasis on encouraging our children to become courageous advocates, not just locally, but nationally and globally.

At some point in life we will all face challenges and need support to help us overcome these barriers. We teach our children that it is important to help others when we can no matter who they are, where they come from or what challenges they may face. We teach this through the teachings of the bible and learning about other courageous advocates. Our Christian Vision, School Values and carefully planned opportunities in our curriculum ensure that the children regularly discuss and debate the big issues, to challenge injustice and to engage in activities that can bring about change are always present.

It is important for our children to appreciate their role as part of a community; to take responsibility, to be able to look after themselves & to foster an understanding of their importance, impact and influence in the world.

In recent years we have carried out a range of different fund raising to support many good causes, some of which include:

• a local food bank (Harrogate Food Bank)
• Sports Relief;
• Comic Relief;
• Children in Need;
• Macmillan;
• Zawadi (raising money for Artizan International);
• The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

Our children have an excellent grasp on the meaning of belonging to a local and global community and the sense of responsibility that comes with belonging. Thereby developing their ability to empathise and make a small sacrifice to benefit others. Together we consider the beauty and fragility of our environment, the actions we take, and the impact these actions may have on the well-being of everyone. Our school community and curriculum actively embraces a responsibility for the world in which we live. We are diligent to show our connection with, and care for, the world in which we all live and care for the people who live in it:

Examples of courageous advocacy by members of our school can be seen below:

Eco Council

This year we have re introduced our eco council. The council is made up of 8 children that were selected by their peers to represent them. We are following the guidance from the Eco-School programme but tailoring it to our needs as a school community. The children carried out an environmental review and we highlighted 3 key areas that we wanted to address as a school energy, water and waste. The eco council have drawn up the action plan and we meet weekly to monitor its progress. So far we have put a big drive on recycling by introducing new systems in school and during the summer term we will see what impact a 'no power day' has on the energy saved against the quality of education.

Toilet Twinning

At Hampsthwaite, we want to help to provide clean water, basic sanitation, and hygiene education to places in the world less fortunate than us. We want to go above and beyond what is 'expected' so that our children have access to a wide, rich set of experiences that will enable them to develop as exemplary individuals.

Young Leaders

We have signed up to the Archbishop of York Youth Trust Young Leaders Award which is led by our RE and Collective Worship Lead, Mrs Thompson. Our school joins many others across England who are involved in changing their communities for the better. We are confident that our Award will have a positive impact on our young leaders as well as on the life of our school and our local community of Hampsthwaite. 

Charlie Graeme

Charlie Graeme took part in the Annual Tractor Run with his Grandad. He helped his Grandad Simon’s Car Garage (Simon Graeme Auto Service Centre in Hampsthwaite) raise money to put towards the total that will be raised at The Tractor Run event all in Aid of The Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Charlie also collected his own donations to add to the final amount and we are really proud of him. 

Tilly Gaskell

I volunteered at a Disability tennis competition in Leeds. I had to give the balls to the players, either by throwing them or by handing them to them directly depending on their disability. I also had to help them stand in the right place, and generally help the umpires and players. They gave me these beautiful flowers as a thank you. 

I really enjoyed it and want to do lots more. 

Miss Creek - GTA

I decided to donate my hair to the Little Princess Charity in order to enable a child, who has lost their own hair, to be able to have a wig should they wish. 

I have had several friends and family members who have had cancer and lost their hair and for many of them losing their hair was one of the hardest things. I hope that by donating some of my hair it helps a child who has lost their hair to feel more confident. 

Alba Triggs

I’ve been visiting Nanna Ann with Mammy ever since I was a baby. She’s lovely and kind and loves seeing me and my sister Elvie.

We sometimes go to her house or Mammy drives us to go for coffee and cake. It’s nice to spend time with Nanna Ann because she doesn’t have much family or people who can look after her.

Alba's Mum

We were matched up with Ann through the charity “Supporting Older People” when I was first on maternity leave with Alba. Because of this, she’s been a constant in our girls lives for a long time. It’s a win/win as Ann gets to socialise and gets a lot of pleasure from seeing the girls grow and we get a great grandparent figure that we no longer have in our own family.
She’s a wonderful, bubbly lady who unfortunately no longer has the family support she once did and we’re all lucky she became part of our extended family.

If anyone is interested in volunteering/befriending/being a telephone buddy or just picking up some shopping, please contact the school as they have the details of the charity. 

The Matilda Choir and Danceability 

Joining with Jude Humphrey and the AMAZING DANCEABILTY, we performed songs and read prose from ‘Matilda’ and ‘The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse’. Money was raised and a donation given to Jennyruth Workshops – a place of work for some of the members of Danceability.

Tom and his guide dog, Jerry, gave a speech about growing up and learning to face life’s challenges.

It was a very special evening, performing alongside young adults with learning difficulties, respecting them as dancers and performers and celebrating differences.

Isabelle and Jessica Holohan

Fundraising for Children in Need

We made a toy stall where we sold some toys we no longer played with. Any money we raised we donated to Children in Need to help them. We raised £16.