Courageous Advocacy

Courageous Advocacy

The Christian Gospel says that every person has a unique task to do, with God, and for God, whether they know it or not. We hold and courageously advocate the conviction that there is something mysterious, and potentially wonderful, in everybody.

How does Southborough C of E Primary School’s Christian vision support the character and moral development of all pupils, giving them aspiration for themselves and hope for the communities of which they are a part of?

How well does our Christian vision inspire the whole school community to engage in social action and to be courageous advocates for change in their local, national and global communities?

"In partnership with the Church of England’s Education Office, we want to encourage a deeper understanding of global injustice and the Christian response to it in primary school pupils across England."

(christianaid.org.uk, 2019)

At Southborough C of E Primary School, we are courageous advocates in what is best for members of our community, locally and nationally.

We understand that life can be challenging at times and that all people, including friends, family and global citizens will face difficulties that they need help to persevere with in order to overcome them. To ensure that we and our community Give, Inspire and Flourish Together we have been and are supportive of a range of charities in our local area, nationally and globally.

Within the community our school is a beacon of light that stands up for what it believes in. Our Christian Values (Hope, Peace, Joy, Forgiveness, Perseverance and Compassion) and British Values (Rule of Law, Tolerance, Democracy, Mutual Respect and Individual Liberty) ensure that opportunities to discuss current world issues, to challenge injustice and to engage in activities that can bring about change are always present. Such as:

• D-Day
• Political and Brexit: Democracy.
• Holocaust Memorial Day.
• Zero Discrimination Day.
• National Storytelling Week.
• Equality: International Women’s Day.
• WW1 Centenary – Mutual Respect and Peace Remembrance activity.
• Digital Guardians.
• Yr R recycling carrier bags and writing to remove plastic straws from milk cartons.
• Collective Worship planning.
• Staff Briefings with Prayers and British Value highlights – current world issues and historic events.
• Odd Socks Day.
• 40 Days of Lent.

We have a long tradition of supporting charities at Southborough. We aim to inspire courageous advocacy and instil our Christian Values in the whole Southborough community this includes participating in, as well as organising, fundraising to benefit a wide range of causes, including locally, nationally and globally.  Some of these include:

• Bloodwise 5K Run – Staff.
• Anthony Nolan – Marathon (https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/TeamCharlie-JonKersey), Weekly Raffle, Staff VS. Children Football Tournament.
• NSPCC
• Comic Relief
• Children in Need
• British Heart Foundation
• Own clothes day – For Charlie (Red clothes for his football team).
• Kent High Weald Partnership - Smarties Challenge
• Kent and Sussex Air Ambulance
• The Purple Community Fund: Ringpull Collection – supporting schools and communities in the Philippines.
• Education for Life – Supporting Tumaini School, Mombasa, Kenya.
• Kenya Children’s Trust – Support Gataka School, Nairobi, Kenya. (Donating uniform, 20p for a lunch.)
• Beanstalk – Reading Dogs Charity
• The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.
• Harvest Festival Food Donations.