A SCHOOL that began through the will of a wealthy man has shown its own charitable aptitude by raising more than £22,000 during the last school year.

With events ranging from bake sales and non-uniform days to tough physical challenges, staff and pupils at Lord Wandsworth College at Long Sutton, near Odiham, have shown commitment to helping others.

Charities supported include the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Teenage Cancer Trust, Cardiac Risk in the Young and Macmillan, as well as the school’s own Ghana Partnership. The college has also started a fund to build a war memorial to honour former pupils who died for their country.

Many events have been nominated by pupils themselves, with Sophie’s Fund being decided as a non-uniform day charity through a Dragon’s Den-style presentation by 14-year-old pupils. lower sixth-former Robyn Wheeler spoke movingly in an assembly about the Teenage Cancer Trust and upper sixth-former Laith Al-Khalaf spoke powerfully about the refugee crisis. Key Stage 3 pupils held a highly successful Christmas fayre which raised £2,000 for a cancer charity.

Boarding houses have raised money through coffee mornings or entertainment evenings featuring external speakers, and staff and pupils have taken on a range of physical challenges together, including the 125-mile Devizes to Westminster canoe race and the John O’Groats to Land’s End cycle tour.

Already the current school year has started with a charitable focus with 17-year-old Ben Baily completing the Mean Bean Challenge for the Tear Fund drawing attention to world hunger, a colour run being held for the war memorial fund, and a Chase The Sun race around the Isle of Wight to raise funds for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

Headteacher Adam Williams said” “As part of our plus-one ethos, it is hugely important to us and our pupils that we seek to be fully engaged with the world outside the college. I am delighted that so many pupils put forward ideas and support events with such determination and they are an inspiration to us all.

“We are committed to developing our pupils’ social awareness and using their skills and passions to benefit the wider community. By doing this, we believe they are very much following the ideals of the college’s founder.”