The Southwater Junior School
'Learning for Life' fund
(registered charity no. 1211997)

The Southwater Junior School ‘Learning for Life’ Fund is a registered charity no. 1121997

What is the 'Learning for Life' fund

Fundraising gives us the opportunity to carry out important initiatives that we have identified, both as a school and a as a community (children, staff, parents, clubs etc.), rather than be limited by those we are able to fund through our local authority budget share. The budget share adequately covers the essentials of day to day provision within the school but leaves us little room for the flexibility to do what we think is important. The fund will allow usto enhance provision for the school and local community through various fundraising initiatives, also maximising the potential of the amazing funds donated by the PTA.

What will the fund be used for?

To promote and enhance the education of, and facilities for pupils (and the community) and for making provision for pupils not usually made possible by the local education authority.

How are funds raised

Monies generated from Extra Curricular school clubs are paid into the Charity Fund (teachers run these clubs voluntarily but we do pay for external coaches), together with profits raised through the sale of school uniform and sundries. Funds raised by the PTA for Southwater Junior School are also directed into this fund.

Gift Aid

‘GIFT AID’ will be encouraged on all contributions paid into this fund - Gift aid is tax relief on money donated to UK charities.
Donations or payments made are treated as if the donor had already deducted basic rate tax from them. We, as a charity, can then reclaim this tax to increase the value of a donation. In order to qualify for Gift Aid donors must:
• pay UK income tax and/or capital gains tax
• give the charity a gift aid declaration, which should include
- their name
- their home address
- the charity’s name
- details of the donation – saying that it is a gift aid donation
- confirmation that they have paid UK tax and/or Capital Gains Tax
Please complete and return the form that can be downloaded here if you would like tax to be reclaimed and paid back to the school from your contributions.

What have we done so far

From PTA funds and monies raised so far we have been able to fund the redecoration of the school hall and the installation of an overhead projector; electronic projection screen, a fully integrated audio system, sound-proofed staging and stage curtaining, all of which have enhanced school assemblies, presentations, productions and performances.
These facilities also provide community benefits as they are available for use by the various groups that hire our hall and Piper Suite, such as the Drama group and the Methodist Church.

We were also, after many years of planning, in a position to build a medical room which enables sick and injured children to be cared for in rather more peaceful surroundings than the entrance foyer. The ‘Learning for Life’ fund allowed us to furnish this build, which will also be available for community use during any events held on the school premises out of school hours.

How else can you help raise funds?

Introducing the Southwater Junior School fundraising Web Shop!

Providing that you register with Southwater Junior School as your chosen beneficiary, every time you shop online, each company listed will donate money to our ‘Learning for Life’ fund. The website address is:http://www.thegivingmachine

There are already over 100 retailers who are giving us their support including household names such as Tesco, HMV, Next, Marks & Spencer, Vodaphone, Amazon, John Lewis Warehouse, The Early Learning Centre and many more.
This is a not-for-profit organisation and a registered member of the Institute of Fundraising. It will not cost you any extra as these companies will pay us from their own profits. Furthermore, virtually all of the companies involved offer online shoppers incredible savings and offers – so we all win!
Not only does our fundraising website enable us to raise money, it’s also useful for you as well. We never know details of your purchases just how much the company donates,
All you have to do is register with at www.thegivingmmachine.co.uk and then access the shop of your choice via the website www.thegivingmmachine.co.uk

It is increasingly necessary for schools to be entrepreneurial in their approach to generating funds and to look for opportunities to maximise the potential of monies raised - we have made a great start towards this. You can help us too by telling us about any interesting schemes you know of through your places of work or any other ideas you may have for us to improve provision for the school and local community.

If you have any queries please contact Mrs L Stott – ‘lstott@wsgfl.org.uk’

 

Pupils at Southwater Junior School are keen charity fund-raisers. Children in all years nominate their favourite charity and then take responsibility for organising, promoting and running a charity stall that sells a variety of products. In the past these have included cakes, biscuits and home made products such as book marks.

They also run competitions such as guess the name of the teddy. The money is then sent to the charity with an accompanying letter from the children explaining how they raised it. When a letter of acknowledgement is received the children are encouraged to tell the rest of the school of their efforts through a school assembly.

Over the last four years over £20 000 has been raised by the children through all our charity events, and the stalls organised and run by the children have contributed enormously to that amount. Information is on the 'Charities' board in the entrance foyer.

 

 

Harvest Festival

The Harvest festival, performed by Year 3 & 4 pupils, was in aid of the Tearfund charity; their aim is 'to release people from poverty across the world' and with the generous donations from parents we raised a magnificent Harvest gift of £294.03, which we hope will help towards this worthwhile cause.

Jeans for Genes Day

Our non-uniform day, where a £1 donation was collected from each person raised £300.
An enormous thank-you to Jenny Divall and the children who so ably publicised and organised this event for such a worthy cause.