Each year Etone takes the time to collect donations form across our community to support people in need around the local area in support of various charity initiatives. Christmas time is an important season for our college with celebration and a chance to reflect on the year. However, for many this time of year can be particularly difficult. Recently our Community Champions were busy finding out some starling statistics including:

• 1 in 5 children in the UK will not receive Christmas presents

• Over 1 million children will go without a warm meal at Christmas time

• 27% of families have admitted to not being able to afford to feed their family

However, perhaps the most poignant is that there will be more than 6 million tonnes food of waste this Christmas.

With such a stark experience up and down the country our community has overwhelmed us with the sheer amount of food and toys that have been donated for our Toy Drive and Foodbank appeals.

To start with on Monday our Community Champions showcased the caring and supportive nature of Etone with the delivery of 23 boxes of food including; 100 mince pies, 150 tins of food, selection boxes and even tubs of Christmas sweets. These are always greatly received but perhaps more this year than most and the volunteers at the Nuneaton Foodbank were once again thrilled to see our collections for the cause.

However, this year there was a particularly impressive haul with our Toy Drive in support of the Salvation Army. With games, dolls, cuddly toys and some truly special gifts the donation centre staff were over the moon with the opportunity to provide even more gifts to people across the town and surrounding areas. It will surely have a big impact and make someone’s Christmas very special.

We of course have a big thank you to all of our staff and pupils and their families who have supported our initiative and wish you all a very merry Christmas.