Sixth Form Community Service

Community Service is an integral part of life at Cardinal Vaughan. It helps to strengthen our community, both within the school and in the local area. The scheme provides pupils with the opportunity to give something back to the surrounding community whilst providing them with an excellent learning opportunity.

Each year, approximately 90% of our lower sixth form students volunteer for one or more of the projects. This is an astonishing figure considering that many of them are studying for four or more AS exams. We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm and commitment shown through their inspirational and highly energised work.

The Community Service scheme offers a number of projects which the sixth form can volunteer to take part in. All the projects offer a unique opportunity for pupils to go into the local community and work with or help many different people. Consequently, the pupils achieve a great sense of worth, appreciation and enjoyment by taking part. Furthermore, the projects provide pupils with the chance to develop important life skills such as independence, organisation, communication and the ability to manage responsibility.

Below are brief descriptions of each of the different projects that are available:

HCPT's annual pilgrimage to Lourdes

The HCPT project involves pupils raising money and then taking children with disabilities, or social and emotional needs, on a Pilgrimage holiday to Lourdes for a week during the Easter holidays. The success of this project is reliant on commited and enthusiastic helpers. It is a special experience for every child, helper or leader that takes part.

Sixty Plus

Sixty Plus is a small charity that aims to support older people in Kensington and Chelsea to maintain their independence. The Intergenerational Project aims to create partnerships of mutual benefit between older and younger people. They need sixth-form volunteers to visit an older person for one hour a week to; help visually impaired people with their admin, provide IT support and coaching or offer help with learning English and practising conversation.

Community Sports Leadership Award (CSLA)

The CSLA is a fantastic course which is an ideal first step towards gaining National Governing Body coaching qualifications. After a series of training sessions participants’ skills are put to the test when they go into a local primary school and run sports activity sessions. The course gives participants the opportunity to develop communication, organisation and leadership skills, giving them the confidence to lead sport in the community.