School Charities of the Year 2025
The Teddies community have come together to vote for their chosen Charities of the Year for 2025.
Shannen Greening, Partnerships Manager, writes:
‘We are delighted to announce that St Edward’s will be working in partnership with two incredible charities. We are pleased to stand with Thames Valley Air Ambulance and Mary’s Meals.
Thames Valley Air Ambulance, our chosen local charity, brings hospital-level care to patients by land and air to give them the best chance of surviving and recovering from an emergency.
Mary’s Meals, our chosen charity from the wider community, provides nutritious school meals to children in Africa, Lebanon, Haiti and Yemen.
The work that these two charities undertake to make meaningful changes to the lives of those they support is exceptional. Mary’s Meals feed 2.5 million children per year, which is nothing short of extraordinary, and Thames Valley Air Ambulance launched a ‘CPR Awareness’ project in 2024. This superb initiative aims to teach a wider audience of people about how to perform life-saving CPR.
We are excited for the year ahead as we support the initiatives of these remarkable charities through a wide range of fundraising opportunities.’
2024 School Charities
‘In 2024, we were proud to see the Teddies community come together in support of three exceptional local charities: Homeless Oxfordshire, Helen & Douglas House, and Oxford Children’s Hospital. Through the encouragement, commitment and collaboration of the Teddies community we were able to support the efforts of these charities who work tirelessly within our local community. This is a remarkable achievement and is testament to the strength of the Teddies ethos of social and cultural education and is reflective of Teddies’ values of kindness and integrity demonstrated at the heart of our community.
Sarah Taylor, Fundraising and Communications Executive, Homeless Oxfordshire told us:
‘We can’t thank everyone at Teddies enough for everything that you’ve done over the past year for Homeless Oxfordshire, having the support of the St Edward’s community has meant so much to everyone here. It’s been fantastic meeting staff and students, and to have received such a warm welcome and a genuine interest in our work whenever we’ve visited. We’re blown away by the incredible amount that you’ve raised by working together to put on some amazing fundraising activities! We know how much time and effort goes into organising events such as the sleepout held in October and your fantastic school steeple chase; we’re so grateful to everyone who helped make these happen, took part, and made a donation towards your fundraising. Homeless Oxfordshire provides an open door for lives shaped by trauma and disadvantage. Thanks to your kindness, help, and generosity we can continue to offer safety, stability, and support when it is needed most.’
Eleanor Jones, Head of Fundraising at Oxford Children’s Hospital explains:
‘Oxford Children’s Hospital Charity would like to say a huge thank you to the pupils, staff, families and supporters at St Edward’s for raising this phenomenal sum. Your support will mean we can continue to make a difference to patients and staff in your local Oxfordshire hospitals, from funding cutting-edge medical equipment to providing the additional extras like game consoles or activity packs that help make a stay in hospital more bearable. We are so grateful to all the effort, energy and enthusiasm that made this astonishing amount possible. Thank you!’
Andrea Baganz-Pritchard, Community Fundraising Manager for Helen & Douglas House, writes:
‘A huge thank you for a wonderful partnership in 2024, I enjoyed being part of a number of lovely events such as the first ever Swap Shop, Gift Raffle after Christmas and speaking in front of the whole school at an assembly. Being able to represent Helen & Douglas House at the Steeple Chase and speaking to parents, pupils and staff at our stall was another great experience despite the weather on the day. As a charity we couldn’t do what we do for our children and families without wonderful supporters like you all and your support is making a huge difference, so thank you again for all you have done for us in 2024.’