12 December
Pupils deliver seasonal cheer to hospital
Students at Aurora Fairway School in St Ives took time out from their studies to deliver some seasonal cheer to young patients at Hinchingbrooke Hospital earlier this week.
The students delivered gifts for children on Holly Ward, which provides elective and emergency care for all children up to the age of 17.
The school’s Assistant Special Educational Needs Coordinator, Elizabeth Paul, said the pupils, who are all members of the student council, were keen to get involved in a community initiative and decided to support the paediatric ward.
“They couldn’t imagine what it would be like to wake up on Christmas Day morning in hospital,”
“They couldn’t imagine what it would be like to wake up on Christmas Day morning in hospital,” she said. “So they decided they’d sprinkle a little bit of seasonal joy and happiness in the ward in the hope it would help the young patients take their minds off being unwell.”
Accompanying the students to the hospital were Headteacher Julie Sadler, Assistant Special Educational Needs Coordinator Elizabeth Paul and Teaching Assistant Vicky Herd.
Elizabeth said: “We hold a modest Christmas fayre at the school with the usual games and tombola but this year the student council decided that whilst this was an opportunity for them to receive gifts, they wanted an opportunity to give some too.”
With the support of staff at the school, who decided to cancel plans for a Secret Santa and put their money towards buying gifts instead. The student council then went about selecting the presents from Holly Ward’s wish list on Amazon.
Elizabeth said: “Staff at the school felt this was a great initiative by our young learners not only because it demonstrated their compassion but also because it fed into the curriculum. The students researched the toys, visited a toy shop and calculated the costs. They really enjoyed having to work things out and it provided a good opportunity for them to taste a bit of independence.”
"They really enjoyed having to work things out and it provided a good opportunity for them to taste a bit of independence.”
The hospital’s Play Service Co-ordinator Zoe Wilkinson said: “Our huge thanks for the pupils and staff at Aurora Fairway School for their imaginative way in supporting children and young people in our hospitals and for their incredible generosity. These gifts will most certainly help to bring some seasonal cheer to our younger patients.”
