How to help
While your children are at William Ellis we hope that you will find a little time to support WESPA. It’s a great way to meet fellow parents and carers as well as a chance to get to know the school and staff a little better. Helpers are always needed at events and new ideas are always welcome.
You can keep in touch by adding your name to the WESPA email list here.
Here are 5 ideas to get you started...
- Join in
Whether handing out a few biscuits at a new parent evening, coming to a year group social or adding your ideas at a WESPA meeting the best thing you can do is come and join in. All parents and carers are automatically members of WESPA. It is run by us, for us.
2. Donate
Support us on Givey.com
For one-off donations or particular WESPA campaigns, head over to givey.com
easyfundraising
If you do your regular online shopping through easyfundraising the school gets cash. It’s that simple.
Direct Debit
If you'd like to set up a regular direct debit or make a direct donation please get in touch here.
We understand that parents may like to donate to a particular cause that is important to them and, in this event, it is possible for WESPA to ring fence funds and coordinate with school directly.
3. Fundraising
If you have any previous experience or want to team up with a fellow parent and create something new, this is a great way to raise funds for the school.
Over the years, WESPA funds have been used to develop the Biology and Science Laboratories, the Art Rooms, the Computer Rooms, and the Library Extension. WESPA has supported the purchase of sound and lighting equipment in the School Hall, sports equipment for the Multigym and the Sixth Form Centre and has contributed to The Mill Residential Centre. We work with the Student Council to support the boys with projects that they believe are important such as basketball hoops and balls and playground improvement.
Thank you to everyone who has donated online, attended events, sold raffle tickets and baked cakes. We are very grateful to the Birkbeck and William Ellis trust for granting WESPA match-funding towards the Music Department, Art Department and Food Tech Lab.
A huge thank you to Camden Giving and The Hampstead Wells and Campden Trust who awarded grants towards WESPA’s Home Learning Laptop campaign, and to the alumni, parents, carers and all donors during the 2020-21 academic year. We reached our £30k target to bring digital equality (good laptops, IT and connectivity) for students at William Ellis School. Match-funding generously granted by the Birkbeck and William Ellis Schools Trust.
4. In Kind Donations
Skills
Currently, parents are already helping with architectural advice, environmental and conservation guidance as well as more practical skills like building guitar racks and mending instruments. If you would like to offer your skills to school, in any area whether it be your job or your hobby, please add your name to the WESPA Parents Skills list and join the parents already making a difference.
Things
We are always keen to look at ways to reuse, recycle and repurpose things we longer need. Great for decluttering, great for school and even better for the environment. Can you help our school with any of the items below? If so, please just bag them up and leave them at the front desk with a note. Thank you very much in advance!
Gardening Gear
Help out with things for our Boys' Eco Club. Wellies (size 5 and up), old tools in working order e.g. spades, shovels, forks and trowels, buckets, tarpaulin, water butts and gardening gloves very welcome!
Guitars
We have already received 8 guitars - 2 more to go! Have you got an unloved 3/4 or full size nylon or steel string guitar needing a home?
Art supplies
All art materials are welcome for Art Therapy. We use a lot of fabric, yoghurt pots and cardboard for junk building. Glue guns and glue sticks, clay, plasticine, felt pens, coloured pencils and anything you can make a mark with is also really useful.
Uniform
If your boys have outgrown their uniform why not find it a new home with the next generation? WESPA welcomes all WES branded uniform donations of sports kit, blazers and ties.
Books
Not sure what to do with books and old study guides your older children have outgrown? Why not donate them to the school library and support the WES literacy program.
Lego
Want to help our Speech & Language Therapist with Lego Therapy at WES? All old Lego very welcome!
Headphones
Help our keyboard groups practise in peace with some additional headphones. We need 5 pairs.
Mugs
We're keen to stock the WESPA cupboard with mugs and to stop buying more plastic. Who's got the craziest mugs?!
5. Volunteer
The WES community is huge and diverse. Whether lending a hand at an event, joining a working weekend at The Mill, offering your professional skills to a school project, or covering one of the central WESPA roles, every contribution benefits our community and is hugely appreciated. Let us know if there is something you are particularly interested in or just join the volunteers list so you can be alerted when help is needed. Or if you're not sure and want to find out more just get in touch!