As part of the ’24 hours to make a difference’ challenge, Larkmead Skillforce students undertook voluntary work at the Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary in Stadhampton. This Challenge enables students to complete projects which benefit their local communities.
The Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary has provided and continues to provide hundreds of abandoned animals with a second chance. At any one time the Sanctuary can be looking after several hundred animals. They currently have over 60 dogs, 90 cats and kittens plus a number of rabbits and guinea pigs.
Our students carried out two days of work at the sanctuary. Monday 16th March consisted of marketing in Stadhampton. The students delivered leaflets and press releases to houses in the village to promote the work that the Sanctuary does. Then on Monday 23rd March the students carried out the same work but in Charlgrove area and also undertook decorating in the common room and toilet area at the sanctuary.
The students worked really hard throughout the days and made a valiant painting effort. At some points they had more paint on themselves than the walls but the finished product made a big difference to the area which was quite tired and in need of freshening up.
A local press reporter took lots of photographs and spent quite a lot of time getting various shots and quotes. This really added a sense of importance to the occasion for the students and helped to reinforce how important the work was that they were carrying out.
Student, Callum Harris said “”It’s nice that we are helping a place that really needs it”.
Tom Griffin, who led the project said “All of the students should feel immensely proud of what they have achieved. They came up with the idea of helping an animal shelter and they have been involved in a lot of the planning for this project. This project contributes towards the students and the school receiving the Skillforce Prince’s Award. We would all like to thank B&M Bargains in Abingdon for their support as they provided a lot of the materials for the project. ”