Hurst's Charity Day a resounding success

Hurst was eerily quiet this morning (30th June 2009) after most of the community had departed by high road and byroad to their designated Charity Day workplace and those that remained buckled down to appropriate tasks around the campus.

“In all” said the School Chaplain“ we undertook some 30 major tasks most of which were within the local community but our total reach was from Chichester in the West to Lindfield in the North and Brighton and Hove to the South”.

"Today was quite exceptionally hot with temperatures of over 30 degrees recorded at some of our work sites although it was, thankfully, a little cooler by the coast. Those working on projects in the open air suffered the most but the day was not meant to be an easy ride for anyone, staff included”.

Work undertaken by Hurst pupils included clearing paths, scrub and trees together with related conservation work on Wolstonbury Hill, Bedelands Nature Reserve, Bracklesham Bombing Range and at St Peter & St James Hospice.

Much needed volunteer labour was provided by Hurst pupils at Plumpton Church, St Andrew’s Hove, St Andrew’s Moulsecoomb and The Disabilities Trust at Hollyrood in Lindfield whilst educational and support work was delivered at Wivelsfield Primary School and Balfour Junior School in Brighton.

“Reports from individual work parties are still coming in” said Hurst Headmaster, Tim Manly “but I know from talking to nearly all the children as they returned to school – a little hot and tired it has to be said – that the day has been a real success. It shows just what can be achieved when needs are identified to us by our own local community and we put aside time to give real help to address some of those needs. I am very proud of our boys and girls and very proud of all that they have done today".

Andrea Clark, Hurst's Head of Biology writes:

"Working alongside the Sussex Wildlife Trust, four Hurst pupils visited Balfour Junior School in Brighton. There we worked with Year 3 children on the topic of ‘minibeasts’, identifying and learning more about the small land and aquatic animals and insects that the children had brought in or collected from the school’s own immediate environment. It was a fascinating day, the Hurst pupils engaged superbly well with the pupils from BJS and I was impressed by the knowledge that they were able to share and the way in which they kept the interest and attention of their young charges. Everyone involved (including me) learned a great deal and thoroughly enjoyed the experience"