Students at St John Bosco Arts College, Croxteth, have raised £3,000 for local, national and international charities during the 2025/26 academic year through a series of fundraising events, awareness campaigns and donation drives. 

Throughout the year, each year group selected and supported a charity of its choice, while students and staff also came together as a school community to support causes across Liverpool and beyond. 

Whole-school initiatives included a Macmillan Coffee Morning, which raised £365, a harvest collection that generated more than 150 food and toiletry donations for the Norris Green North Liverpool Foodbank, support for Nugent’s Toy Appeal, and the school’s annual Christmas fayre, which raised £654 for three of the year groups’ chosen charities, Mary’s Meals, VIDES UK, and Woodlands Hospice. 

The school also marked key awareness days and weeks such as Children’s Mental Health Week and World Down Syndrome Day through bake sales and ribbon fundraising, raising a total of £979, which was distributed accordingly to Hello Yellow / YoungMinds and Down Syndrome UK. 

Mr Darren Gidman, headteacher of St John Bosco Arts College, said: “I am extremely proud of our school community and all it has achieved over the past year to raise awareness and funds for such important causes. 

“At St John Bosco Arts College, we believe in nurturing not only bright minds, but also kind and compassionate hearts. It has been fantastic to witness students’ empathy, sense of social responsibility and Catholic values in action throughout the year. 

“Alongside raising an incredible amount of money and collecting vital donations for charities, these activities have helped students further develop their teamwork, leadership and organisational skills. As we reflect on all that has been achieved this year and look ahead to the future, I am excited to see what next year’s fundraising events will accomplish.” 

Year 7’s charity of choice for 2025/26 was Zoe’s Place, which provides specialist care to babies and children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions in Liverpool. To support the charity, Year 7 students raised awareness of the vital work Zoe’s Place does through sponsored walks, bake sales and tutor group collections. 

CAFOD (The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) was the chosen charity of Year 8 students, who raised £364 by collecting donations following whole-school productions and services including Advent and Lent. They also took part in a sponsored ‘water walk’ during PE lessons, where they carried buckets filled with water to experience the challenges faced by communities without easy access to water. 

Year 9 students chose to support Mary’s Meals, which provides school meals to children in some of the world’s poorest countries, after being inspired during an assembly led by a member of the charity’s outreach team. From selling handmade gifts at the Christmas fayre to organising a bake sale, the year group raised £473. 

Handmade gifts and treats for the Christmas fayre were also prepared by Year 10 students in support of VIDES UK. Through important enterprise and communication skills, the year group raised £160 to support the charity, which works with young people and communities globally. 

Students in Year 11 organised and managed the whole-school foodbank drive for Norris Green North Liverpool Foodbank, which coincided with harvest, and sixth form students also supported the foodbank by collecting a range of essential items for women, including hygiene products, for International Women’s Day. 

Sixth formers also raised £151 for Woodlands Hospice during the Christmas fayre by selling goods provided by the hospice on their stalls. 

As well as year group charity initiatives, St John Bosco Arts College supported individual students who were fundraising for initiatives close to their hearts. Heidi in Year 11 raised over £300 for the 26th World Scout Jamboree, which is taking place in Poland next year, by organising two cake sales, and Evie in Year 8 had her very first haircut in order to donate 29 inches of hair to The Little Princess Trust. 

The 2025/26 fundraising events formed part of St John Bosco Arts College’s commitment to serving others and making a positive difference, demonstrating the power of kindness, generosity and community spirit in action.