One of the most heartening aspects of charitable fundraising at the College is the commitment and initiative shown by the boys themselves. In recent years they have organised numerous events including football tournaments, cake sales, comedy evenings and the collection of second-hand rugby kit. Recently, they decided to launch an appeal for Henry Fraser, paralysed during a swimming accident in the summer holidays. Henry’s Trust, fuelled by a large number of fundraising initiatives, from a Talent Show through to a Wear-your-own-Tie Day, raised over £39,000 in six months.
Over the past few years members of the College community have also raised substantial sums (on average around £25,000 annually) for many local charities including Trinity Hospice, St Christopher’s Hospice, our local Leonard Cheshire home, Emmaus and the Hollington Club - a youth club situated in a deprived area of Camberwell which was originally founded by the College and continues to attract the support of Old Alleynians.
Charity might begin at home, but as a diverse and multi-cultural school we also look further afield. In May 2008 we united with our partnership schools to raise money for the Chinese Earthquake appeal while the College also has an ongoing commitment to supporting the Buwembe School in Busia, Uganda. Money has been raised to construct a badly-needed library and science laboratory, and the aim is gradually to replace all the mud buildings with brick, as well as providing scholarships; the links between Dulwich and Buwembe are strengthening all the time.
Our charity work has an obvious benefit to the community, raises the boys’ awareness of the needs of those around them and encourages them to develop as rounded, useful citizens with a strong sense of their role in society.