College spreads goodwill with festive fetes and charity collections

The Christmas spirit was in full flow across New City College with festive events, charity collections, fetes and a foodbank donation drive.

Foundation Learning (SEND) students organised and staffed a Christmas fete at the Havering Sixth Form campus, raising a huge total of £336.50.

The event with arts and crafts, sweet cones, tombola, raffle and seasonal goodies, was run as part of the students’ work experience, with all of them making the decorations, gifts and prizes for the brightly decorated stalls.

Facilitator and Job Coach, Julie Ettridge, said: “Our students worked hard, enjoyed the experience and interacted very well with staff and mainstream students who visited the fete. The money raised will go towards more equipment for Enterprise, to make items for our next event where more students will complete their work experience module. Thank you to everyone who came along and supported us.”

At other NCC campuses, staff and students put on their brightest, fluffiest and most colourful Christmas jumpers to raise money for local charities. Over £100 was raised for the Haven House Hospice, which supports local children who have life-limiting conditions, and for the Richard House Children’s Hospice, which supports families and children all over the East London area.

In another charity initiative, trolley loads of food and toiletries were donated to help those in need this Christmas. A collection of donated items from New City College was delivered to local foodbanks after a campaign by students and staff to help families in crisis.

Trolleys and crates were crammed full of goods such as pasta, shower gel, nappies, tins, biscuits, tea bags, cereal, sweets and juice which had been generously brought in by the college community.

Ian Budge, Deputy Principal at NCC Ardleigh Green campus, said: “A heartfelt thank you to colleagues and students for your donations to our foodbank and winter clothing campaign. Your generosity and support is greatly appreciated.”

And finally, a college collection of Christmas gifts for those less fortunate or on their own this season was overwhelming for Student Services staff.

One staff member said: “We have been overwhelmed with the amount of presents donated for vulnerable students and families this Christmas. The kindness and generosity shown by everyone in the college has been incredible. With just a small and simple gesture, staff and students have really made a difference to people’s lives this year.”