Support for Homelessness in London

TWO ARTICLES BY YEAR 8, ABOUT OUR 2025 LENTEN FUNDRAISING 

The Goal of Social Awareness

This plays a very key part in our school life. This year we chose to focus on Homelessness which has reached extraordinary levels in London. There has been an increase of approximately 58%, between April 2023 and March 2024, individuals experiencing homelessness.

The reality of homelessness in London goes far beyond those sleeping on the streets. Hundreds of thousands of people across the city are facing housing insecurity, many sleeping in temporary accommodation, shelters, or on night buses, while others sofa-surf. More and more people at risk of losing their homes are turning to charities like Glass Door for support, highlighting the growing crisis.

It’s easy to judge those experiencing homelessness, but the reality is that it can happen to anyone – loss of job or a sudden change in circumstances can quickly lead to housing instability.

Our school’s Lenten fundraiser helped raise funds for Glass Door, with the upcycled fashion show serving as the highlight of the event. Students collected unwanted clothing and transformed them into stylish, one-of-a-kind outfits, promoting sustainability while raising awareness about the environmental damage caused by fast fashion. “Fast fashion is one of the world's biggest polluters and we need to do something about it. Upcycling clothes and repurposing them can help our planet reduce the amount of waste that we produce!”

The afternoon event was a reminder to all of us, that social awareness and compassion can make a big impact on the lives of others. We all play a major part in fighting homelessness and helping those who need it most. The funds raised will directly support Glass Door in their mission to provide shelter, meals, and stability to individuals facing homelessness across London.

Social awareness is very important as having a mutual understanding of everyone's views can show maturity and respect for one another. We focus on social awareness in our lessons by listening to others when they are speaking, valuing one another’s points of view and trying to understand other people's opinions.

Social awareness is a big part of our school values, and we are encouraged to speak up for social injustice – as our young voices can seriously make a difference.  

(Year 8 Team)

Building Community

Recently, our school community collaborated together with various internal focus groups (Eco, Kairos, Heart Fest and Goals ambassadors) to discuss our Lenten fundraising project - Glass Door, a charity that works to eliminate homelessness.

The fundraising initiative was a collective effort that brought many of us together. We discussed common issues that we felt strongly about and decided that we wanted to focus on homelessness in our community and also highlight the impact an increasing fast fashion companies, were having on our world.

Our school has always tried to emphasise the importance of giving back, and this project was no exception. The goal was clear: raise money for Glass Door to help provide vital services for the homeless community, while also raising awareness of preserving our planet. But what made this fundraising project even more special was the way students from all year groups, and all of our staff too, worked hand-in-hand to achieve it.

From bake sales, world food buffets, hot chocolate, pancakes, hot dogs, strawberry delights, fruit kebabs to spa rooms, football, karaoke, just-dance, skipping - the list is endless! The clothes swap and the up-cycled fashion show were extremely successful.

The laughter and joy were infectious as students watched both staff and students strut their stuff on the cat-walk.

The day wasn’t just about raising money; it was about creating lasting memories and building deeper bonds within our school community. The sense of fun and positivity that surrounded the entire afternoon made all the planning and hard work feel worthwhile.

What made the day even more special was that this event took place on Founder’s Day - our school site was purchased by Mother Digby for just £37,000 on 25th March 1893.

Thanks to the efforts of everyone involved, we raised over £3,250 for Glass Door. This money will go directly to support homeless individuals and families, providing them with food, shelter, and support as they work towards rebuilding their lives.

We are also very proud that we all, through hard work and collaboration, have not only achieved our goal but also experienced the true power of community. 

(Year 8 Team)