BBC News School Report gives 11-16 year-old students in the UK the chance to make their own news reports for a real audience. Using lesson plans and materials from this website, and with support from BBC staff and partners, teachers help students develop their journalistic skills to become School Reporters.
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About Hollybank
Hollybank, one of Bromley Healthcare’s specialist services, is in Chislehurst and offers short-term breaks for children and young people with disabilities and complex health care needs. It’s a happy, homely, safe and stimulating environment so those that go there can achieve their maximum potential. Staff work closely with families and other professionals (schools, health care professionals) to keep children with their family. Website service page for Hollybank - http://www.bromleyhealthcare.org.uk/find-a-service/hollybank
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A day of smiles Paula Larder, Bromley HealthcareIt was a day of smiles at Hollybank on Wednesday 18 March when pupils from Ravens Wood School presented staff and children at Hollybank with a cheque.
Last year pupils from Ravens Wood School Academy of Media (RAMs) made a film of the wonderful service that Hollybank provides. The pupils chose Hollybank because its local and provides a wonderful facility for children and young people, and their families, who need help and support, which is done in a safe and stimulating environment so those that go there can achieve their maximum potential. The boys met and interviewed staff during filming. This helped them gain some awareness and understanding of the differing needs of children with disabilities as well as developing their media skills. This prompted Ravens Wood School (RWS) to support Hollybank as its local charity. On Wednesday 18 March year 8 pupils Ollie Elliott and Deryck Bulley-Tagoe from the Ravens Wood School Academy of Media (RAMs) presented a cheque for £2,026.45 to Hollybank. The money was raised from the school having its own clothes day. Ollie and Deryck were joined by Phillip Cullen, student leader of the RAMs. They were accompanied by teachers Tim Jackson and James Evans. Bromley Healthcare is delighted that RWS has decided to continue supporting Hollybank and not only build on this relationship but to raise further funds to help improve its facilities. Amanda Rees, Hollybank Manager, said, ‘A huge thank you to the school for keeping us in your hearts and minds.’ She was disappointed not to be there on the day of the presentation adding, ‘It’s such a fantastic start to raising funds for Hollybank so we can purchase garden and sensory equipment for the children.’ It’s always a privilege to help our local community, and today, a group of students from Ravens Wood School had the opportunity to find this out for themselves.
Ravens Wood School decided to partner with a local charity, Hollybank, which is a respite centre for disabled children in the Bromley borough. Since their partnership began, Ravens Wood School has recently held a variety of fundraising ventures including a staff Six Nations Sweepstake and a whole-school own clothes day. These activities managed to raise in excess of £2,000. Three students, Phil Cullen, Ollie Elliot and Deryck Bulley-Tagoe, were chosen to present the cheque to the staff and children of Hollybank. The cheque was received with beaming smiles from all present. |
On Wednesday after school Me, Deryck, Phil, Mr Jackson and Mr Evans went to Hollybank to film us giving the cheque over and interview some members of staff.
As soon as we got into the building we went to the kitchen there was lot of snacks and lots of sandwiches there. After we ate we went to the front of Hollybank to hand over the massive cheque, I handed the cheque, which was a pleasure. We raised £2026.45 as a school through our fund raising. Then we interview with the staff in the kitchen that had a luxury sofa that the staff sat on. Deryck interviewed the staff asking the questions. “What will the money do to help the Hollybank Centre?” And “what are thoughts on the relationship between Ravens Wood and Hollybank?” by Oliver & Deryck, Yr 7. One member of staff commented: ‘At Hollybank, we make a difference to families’ lives and to the parents and children who come here, and [Ravens Wood] in their turn are making a difference to what we can do to help those children.’
It was evident that the visiting students got a lot out of the experience. Ollie speaking after the presentation said: ‘It was really good to learn about the children’s disabilities and how we are building a relationship with Hollybank.’ Whilst Hollybank is partly funded by the NHS, it still needs additional funding to provide the excellent facilities it offers. Ravens Wood School has shown that even with the simplest of means, we can make a big difference to those local charities which, as Jack put it: ‘means so much to so many people.’ Maximilian , Y1 |