Donations from Avon Valley School for Hampers
Staff donate items to support vulnerable young people
Members of staff from The Avon Valley School and Performing Arts College have donated items that will be
used to make Christmas hampers which will be received by young people across Warwickshire who have
recently left foster care and now live alone.
Once again kind hearted staff from school rallied to support the initiative which is organised by Norma Wilson,
who is a member of Warwickshire County Council’s fostering service. Over the last 17 years Norma has
selflessly created hundreds of hampers which are received by young people who don’t have a family to sup-
port them during the Christmas period.
Last year Norma created 145 hampers, and have set herself the target of 175 hamper for this Christmas. This
year 30 hampers will go to young people with babies and will contain hand-knitted cardigans, hats and gloves.
The Christmas hampers contain donated gifts and essential items such as: socks, gloves, biscuits, soups,
mince pies, toothbrushes which young people who have recently left foster care might find useful.
Alison Davies, Headteacher, said, “This is another fine example of our school community coming together to
support others. I delighted that we’ve been able to contribute and help Norma spread a little festive
happiness.”
To create the hampers Norma has asked neighbours, friends and work colleagues for support and has
contacted supermarkets and shops to gather more donations and has been overwhelmed by the positive
response.
The New Year
Returning to school in January is our second chance for a ‘fresh start’ within the academic year. Over the
last few weeks I have been disappointed to see that standards of uniform have slipped somewhat and that
some students are persistently breaking basic rules. Please ensure that when your child returns after the
holiday, they are smartly dressed in full school uniform. In particular, I do not expect to see students wearing
trainers, coats or scarves inside the building or for them to have inappropriate haircuts, nails or piercings.
The school policy on this is clear and has not changed. The policy can be found on the website and gives
examples of appropriate shoes and trousers.
Please note, there will be a uniform check on the first day back and we will expect a prompt response if
students are inappropriately dressed.
A Davies