Our ethos for partnerships at Wetherby Pembridge is to encourage students to look beyond the classroom. To develop leadership, teamwork and problem solving skills whilst contributing to the local community. This community focus frames the inaugural term of our Partnerships programme, explored through the following key areas in this article:

• The Changemakers Club: Student Leadership and Initiative
• Showcasing Leadership: Changemakers Assembly
• Making a Difference: Festive Fundraising and Community Engagement
• Action to Impact: Celebrating a Successful First Term

The Changemakers Club: Student Leadership and Initiative.

At the beginning of the academic year, the Partnerships programme was introduced to students and staff through our core initiative, Changemakers. 

Students registered to be part of one of two Changemakers groups who meet weekly to plan community and charity activities. The club aims to empower students to become compassionate leaders and active agents of social change. Students are encouraged to identify needs within the community and design their own projects and charitable campaigns.

Immediately, club members began planning events independently. The first initiative put forward by students was to host a week-long food drive culminating in a Halloween Bake Sale, to raise food and funds for the Hammersmith and Fulham Food Bank. The Changemakers were organised into separate teams to manage aspects such as communications, logistics and resources. Our first fundraiser was a success, raising a total of £582.31 across the food drive and bake sale. Two of our students also assisted in loading the donated food onto the food van, demonstrating the Changemakers’ commitment to the initiative from start to finish.

Showcasing Leadership: Changemakers Assembly.

The Changemakers Assembly provided the opportunity to introduce the school community to the Changemakers Club, showcasing the projects they have undertaken and the work planned for the future. Students took the lead in planning, designing, and scripting the Assembly, with the goal of explaining what it means to be a Changemaker both locally and globally. They highlighted the positive impact each of us can have in daily life and within the school community. The Assembly also featured a talk from Phil Storey, CEO of the Hammersmith and Fulham Foodbank, who spoke about the significance of our first school-wide initiative and the impact it will have for local families. Changemakers presented confidently and this first partnership with the foodbank marks the beginning of what will be a long-lasting relationship, with further events and collaborations planned for the year ahead.

After the Assembly, students had the opportunity to reflect on the realities faced by families experiencing food insecurity. One Year 7 pupil responded to the talk with a reflective poem:

I learnt about shelters today
And saw how many people's lives were grey.
They choose between heat or eat
And go outside in bare feet.
As I let the water run in the kitchen sink
I think to myself this is what some don't drink.
When I leave some carrots on my plate
My parents say it's rude.
Now I know not everyone has food.

This creative response highlights the impact that a meaningful partnership experience should have on students.

Making a Difference: Festive Fundraising and Community Engagement

Next on the agenda for Partnerships was a holiday toy drive for Bevington Primary School’s Christmas Fayre. Through EARNT, an organisation connected with Olympia that links local schools institutions with the community, we were introduced to Bevington Primary School. Students from the Changemakers Club wrapped and hand-delivered the donated toys to the school and helped set up their stall in one of the art rooms at the fayre. They did a wonderful job selling the toys to families and students, raising funds for the school. The initiative was a resounding success, and Bevington Primary School were extremely grateful and impressed by our students’ dedication, enthusiasm, and willingness to help.

The students’ development was evident in the way they managed logistics and communicated with staff, parents and pupils of the school. One Year 9 student reflected that leading a project “taught me teamwork and showed that even small ideas can help others,” illustrating the personal growth already emerging from these experiences.

Alongside their external partnership work, the Changemakers were planning our very own inaugural Winter Fayre. Building on what they had learned from our first initiative, students divided into teams to ensure everything ran smoothly. After weeks of planning, from designing stalls to coordinating donations and creating promotional materials, the students delivered a vibrant event that raised £644.52 for the RSPCA. An impressive achievement for our school community. On the same day, students and staff celebrated Christmas Jumper Day, raising money for the Masbro Centre’s Christmas meal for the elders and strengthening the school’s ties with local organisations. Both events together totalled over £700, showcasing the generosity of the school community and the meaningful impact of student leadership within the programme.

Action to Impact: Celebrating a Successful First Term.

These initiatives have demonstrated the meaning of partnership in practice. The first term of the Partnerships programme has successfully brought the concept of partnership to life, both in principle and in practice. Through student-led initiatives spanning a range of community causes, the programme has begun to instil a genuine sense of service leadership, fully aligned with our mission here at Wetherby Pembridge. Students now recognise the school as part of a wider community network and both staff and community partners alike noted the students’ enthusiasm and professionalism, even in the earliest stages of the programme.
Looking ahead, we aim to build on this strong foundation by expanding collaborations with schools and local organisations, and continuing to explore opportunities to connect with partners across the Inspired network. With these foundations in place, we look forward to building even stronger partnerships and creating more meaningful experiences for our students next term.