Highfield and Brookham School fundraising events swell charity coffers

Two good causes have received a cash windfall after a busy term of fundraising events at an independent school in Liphook.

Highfield and Brookham School's annual fireworks display went off with a bang, raising a dazzling £3,300 for Highfield Highreach Holidays. The proceeds – up almost £1,000 on last year – came from sales of food and drink on the night and cash donations to the charity.

The annual bonfire and fireworks extravaganza at the independent nursery, pre-prep and prep school on the rural borders of Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex provides a regular boost to Highreach, which has been running since 2018 and provides respite for children with physical and mental disabilities.

While the fireworks display was liberally described as “the best ever” by many of the hundreds of visitors to the school, traditional guys produced by pupils from the prep school’s three houses – Agincourt, Trafalgar and Waterloo – took pride of place on top of the bonfire as part of the annual house competition, with Agincourt taking the honours this time around.

Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham School, said she felt it was fitting that Highreach had benefited from the success of the fireworks and bonfire: “When you think of Bonfire Night words such as dazzling, fun, heartwarming and colourful spring to mind, words which could just as easily apply to the wonderful Highreach charity and its amazing week of activities.

“We’re absolutely thrilled with the amount of money we have raised, money which will continue to provide much-loved holidays for disabled children and a necessary break for their families and carers. So thank you to everyone who came along and supported such a great cause and to our brilliant catering team who provided such tasty and warming fayre.”

The fundraising didn't stop there though... Creative pupils designed their own Christmas cards and raised money for charity along the way.

The annual Christmas card design competition at Highfield and Brookham is always a festive favourite and gives prep school children the chance to see their personal designs become reality thanks to printing company Cauliflower Cards. And as the individual cards went on sale to proud parents, a portion of these proceeds goes to Highreach.

Children from Year 4 all the way through to Year 8 have the option each year to design their own Christmas cards, from which individual year group winners and an overall winner are picked by school staff members who are given the chance to vote.

Suzannah Cryer said: “Like most schools, we have a busy and varied run up to Christmas with a great many festive events going on, and one of the most popular is the annual Christmas card design competition.

“It’s amazing to see the variety of the entries and the creativity and imagination shown by the children year on year, but most of all I’m always so impressed by the sheer quality of the entries. It really is wonderful and is perhaps a good indicator as to why our children earn senior school art scholarships every year.”

She added: “Warmest congratulations to not only our winners but to everyone who took part. They should all be very proud of their festive artwork.”

Christmas hampers were also stacked full of donated goodies and raffled to raise money for charity. Beautifully presented by parent body the Friends of Brookham, the hampers raised £1,200 which will be split between Highreach and Liphook Food Bank.

The charity windfall from the hampers comes hard on the heels of Highfield and Brookham raising £2,400 for the food bank and Highreach via its annual Christmas fair, which is run by Highfield Parents’ Association with help from Year 8 prep school children.

Suzannah Cryer said: “Every Christmas our parent body work hard putting together the most delightful festive hampers and every year they are much sought after, a fact reflected by the amazing amount of money the school has raised for two charities very dear to our hearts. I’m truly grateful for the time and effort spent putting these wonderful hampers together and to everyone who supported the raffle.”

Highfield Highreach Holidays is hosted at Highfield and Brookham and is committed to supporting local families. It runs for one week every August and the charity covers half of the cost of the residential holiday, making it one of few affordable residential respite holidays around. The cost of these holidays is met by ongoing fundraising initiatives within the school community and a healthy group of volunteers, many of whom return year on year, including former pupils of Highfield and Brookham School.

In August 2022, the young holidaymakers were joined by Ofsted inspectors who declared Highreach “outstanding” in all areas. It is set to run next summer from August 2-10.

Liphook Food Bank, which is based at Liphook Junior School and is open for collections from 9.30am-11.30am on Tuesdays and Fridays, provides weekly food parcels for families and individuals who are struggling financially. People in need should call 07871 287295 or email liphookfoodbank@gmail.com.