Danes Hill School supports Oasis Children's Charity Christmas Hamper Appeal

Over the festive period, the Oasis Children’s Charity supports over 250 families with their Christmas Appeal. Their aim is to ensure families enjoy Christmas, without the stress and financial burden they would otherwise feel.

Volunteers from the Oasis charity, St Andrew’s Church Youth Group and pupils and teachers from Danes Hill School, a Prep school in Oxshott, have worked incredibly hard to support the charity with the organisation of their hampers throughout December. The Christmas Appeal was launched by founder Caroline Edwards and trustees Sian Marshall and Amna Boheim and it helps over 250 families with either hampers or food vouchers. In the final week of term, the Year 7 and 8 pupils from Danes Hill School volunteered their time to pack the dried goods in the school's Sports Hall. In the final days before Christmas, volunteers from Danes Hill School, the Oasis Charity and St Andrew’s Church Youth Group gathered at the Oasis headquarters, packing the fresh food ready for the hampers to be distributed for Christmas Day.

Each Christmas, the charity supports families already supported by Oasis, as well as families that have been nominated by their schools. Not only does the charity supply hampers packed full of delicious food, they also give gifts to the children and their parents, which are donated via the Oasis Amazon Wish List. Through last year’s Christmas Appeal and generous grants and financial donations, the charity was able to purchase most of the food that has gone into this year’s hampers. 

The charity is incredibly grateful to their generous supporters who bulk purchase donations of some of the dry food such as biscuits and yule logs. Oasis purchases the fruit and vegetables from Jim and his team who have a stall at Squires in Stoke D'Abernon. The Charity has a great relationship with Waitrose, who identify goods at discounts for the charity as well as supplying the turkeys and hams that go into each large hamper.

On the 2023 Christmas Appeal JustGiving page, supporters have raised an amazing £65,082 with donations still being made. Danes Hill School has spent the Autumn term raising funds for the Oasis Christmas Appeal and the total of their fundraising efforts will be counted soon. The charity is also receiving an amazing £26,700 grant from the National Lottery.

Danes Hill School’s fundraising efforts have included a sponsored Santa Dash which saw the pupils donning their Christmas fancy dress for a 1km dash through the school’s playing fields. The school’s Art department hosted The Big Draw event with guest artist Steve Chapman. The raffle and silent bid of Steve Chapman’s artwork raised a tremendous £1068. In the final weeks of term, the Pre-Prep pupils ran a coat drive, collecting pre-loved coats for babies, toddlers, teens and grown-ups, all of which were delivered directly to Oasis to help keep the families they support, warm for the winter. Miss Woods, Head of Charities, organised a mufti day for pupils on the last day of term with a £2 donation per pupil for the charity pot. Through this extensive programme of events and activities, Danes Hill School has raised a considerable amount for the Oasis Children’s Charity Christmas Appeal.

Founder of the Oasis Children’s Charity, Caroline Edwards said: "Thank you Danes Hill School for your continued support this term, together we are touching people's lives in our community."

Mrs Shaw, Head of Danes Hill School, commented: "Witnessing our senior pupils on their mission to pack the hampers was very special. It has been an unforgettable term of fundraising, and our school community is incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to help local families enjoy Christmas."