This festive period, Bedford Free School (BFS) staff and students are giving back to the community through two different projects.  Firstly, each tutor group is being challenged to create “Christmas in a Box”, an initiative being run by a local faith group, to provide a Christmas hamper to local families in crisis.  For 2019 they are hoping to build on the success of last year’s Christmas in a Box where they distributed over 850 boxes, reaching over 1,900 people in Bedford.  Overseeing this project at BFS is Assistant Principal, Mrs Foley who said “Our pupils have really gone the extra mile!  I had the pleasure of dropping off the boxes this week.  The minibus was full and we took 21 boxes, plus some other items, we are literally giving the gift of Christmas to local families. Next year, we’re aiming for 30 boxes!”

In addition to this, pupils have been working to create “Bags of Love”.  Initially this was the idea of Mrs Lehain, Subject Head for Religious Education and a founding member of staff, who worked with her students in a sewing elective session to create handmade toiletry bags.  Staff and pupils were then asked to donate whatever they could in the way of toiletries and cosmetics products.  But the response was so overwhelming, that the pupils couldn’t make enough bags!  At this point Ms Costin-Webb, Pastoral Leader and local Girls Brigade Leader remembered the “Love in a Bag Bedford” campaign and asked her troop to get involved by donating unused handbags.  Set up in 2018 by Mel Stratton of Putnoe, Love in a Bag Bedford is a local charity with a very simple concept; find a handbag that you no longer use, fill it with essential toiletries (shampoo, sanitary products, face wipes, tissues etc) plus a note or Christmas card, and it will be donated to women in crisis.  Mel came to the school to collect the donations and said “Thank you to the pupils and staff at Bedford Free School for supporting Love in a Bag Bedford this Christmas and helping to make a difference to our local community, supporting those in need.  I really appreciate it.”

BFS Principal, Tim Blake, said “Our mantra at BFS is to work hard and be nice, what better way to embody those principles than to give back to the community that has supported us, especially at this time of year.  I’m really proud of our pupils, and staff, for getting behind both of these great causes.”