Boys at Bournemouth’s Harewood College each year make hampers for the St Paul’s homeless shelter in the town
For more than 20 years students at one Bournemouth school have brought festive cheer to the homeless.
Every year students from Harewood College set themselves a Christmas challenge of collecting as much food as possible.
The boys then make creative of hampers filled with food and drink, which they donate to the town’s St Paul’s hostel in time for Christmas Day.
Executive headteacher, Debbie Godfrey-Phaure, said: “Harewood College has supported the homeless shelter in the St Paul’s area of Bournemouth for over 20 years now.
“The boys go to great lengths every year to collect as much food as possible to make into creative hampers.
“It is wonderful to see the students embrace the real spirit of Christmas and to give to others in more need.”
For an extra slice of festive fun, the boys present their hampers in a wide array of styles.
Last year’s winning design was a functioning carousel, which narrowly beat an oversized Christmas pudding hamper.
Prizes are given each year to the boys who come up with the winning design and for the form that has contributed the most food.
On the last day of term the students brought their bounty of goodies to school where they were presented at a special assembly.
Lorna Trent, Fundraising Manger at BCHA, which runs the hostel, said: “On behalf of BCHA and the vulnerable people we support I would like to say a big thank you to all the pupils and staff at Harewood College for their continuing generosity. It is heart-warming to see that the young people of Bournemouth care so much about those that are less fortunate than themselves.
“Many people come to us with very little, sometimes only the clothes they are wearing, so to be able to provide them with these gifts at Christmas can make a huge difference to someone. We know that these presents will bring a lot of joy to the residents of St Pauls on Christmas day, and will let them know that someone is thinking of them this Christmas time.”
Boys at Bournemouth’s Harewood College each year make hampers for the St Paul’s homeless shelter in the town
