Supporting charitable activities
We recognise that modern young people seek to make a positive difference in society. Eastbourne College encourages pupils to reflect on their good fortune and consider, as an integral part of their wider education, to take part in charitable activities in aid of those less fortunate.
There are many opportunities for pupils to be caring and generous, including events organised by the Charity Society, houses and individual pupils supporting their own charities and the Chapel Charity, reflecting a wide and ever-changing range of personal connections and experiences.
The Chapel Charity
The Chapel Charity was introduced by a former chaplain, in order that a pupil (or group of pupils) volunteer to lead the fundraising for a charity of their choice, organising a series of events each term. For instance, in 2017/18 Euan McGreevy led fundraising in aid of the Lunchbowl Network, a charity to which he had a personal connection and which looks after orphaned and disadvantaged children in the Kibera shanty town outside Nairobi in Kenya. In 2018/19, Shaumya Kularajan organised a superb Charity Revue which was one of the events that helped raise £5,000 for that year’s Chapel Charity, The Chaseley Trust.
Charity Society
During the school year, key charitable events take place with the help and support of the Charity Society. This is formed of house charity representatives and some volunteer members of the sixth form. They meet fortnightly with the College charity co-ordinator (currently, the chaplain) to plan and run charity events and liaise with their houses to encourage wider participation in charitable activities. In 2024, across the school, almost £30,000 was raised in this way.
House Events
The most effective and passionate fundraising takes place within the houses, where events ranging from cake sales, 24-hour athletic feats and, occasionally, a whole weekend of walking or running take place. The charities supported usually have a direct connection with the house, and these events are always strongly supported by parents, friends and the wider community
National and Global Disasters
As a community, the College is keen to respond to national and global disasters. For example, in recent years, the Sixth Form raised money to help a family affected by the Grenfell Tower fire in London and, on another occasion, pupils supported Filipino staff employed at the College, holding a fundraising day following a storm in the Philippines.
Local Charity Links
The College provides on-going support to the following local charities:
- St Wilfrid’s Hospice: pupils serve and provide musical entertainment for guests at an annual fundraising lunch
- The Chaseley Trust: we host an annual mid-summer concert to help raise funds
- Teenage Cancer Trust: various house-led fundraising events. Representatives from the TCT also help to raise awareness by giving an annual talk to Year 10 pupils as part of the Life and Learning programme.
- Arts Connect: staff run courses for young artists with learning difficulties
