The Charity Think Tank was set up in September 2009 consisting of eight Upper Sixth students who work together to coordinate and plan the College’s Charity events for the upcoming year, with the guidance of Mr Lamont and Mr Dennis. In addition to fundraising, we coordinate educational talks which provide pupils with the chance to see where their money is going and how it has helped to make a difference. We concentrate on working with smaller charities: this makes it easier to know exactly where our money will go and we can directly see the impact that it makes. As well as raising money we focus on using our skills to help others.
There are many different ways that we implement our goals and raise money. Last year we ran two large charity events: the Marlborough College Charity Day and Super Sunday. We also ran smaller events such as Bingo for the Upper School and the Valentine’s Lunch Raffle. The Charity Think Tank represents itself in Chapel affairs by choosing the charities which the collections from the Carol, Advent and Confirmation services will go to. These services are a great opportunity to promote the charities we support. In addition to what the Charity Think Tank works on directly, the Lower Sixth has been given a challenge of turning £10 into £100 over the Lent Term and Easter holiday using their own initiative, benefiting a charity called Hope and Homes for Children. Weekly assemblies provide an excellent open forum to inform pupils about charities and upcoming events either through members of the Charity Think Tank or outside charities speaking directly to the pupil body about their causes.
Our aims are:
• To improve the quality of life of others – responsibly research and choose charities that we believe will fulfil our criteria.
• To increase the awareness of global issues.
• To educate the student body how we can all individually make a difference.
• To encourage initiative and enterprise within the student body.
• To inform the student body how their actions and donations have helped to make a difference.
• To avoid taking privilege or position for granted but to utilise our advantages appropriately and responsibly.
To read about the charities supported by the College Advent and Carol Services 2011 please click here.