Eden Girls’ School nominated as School of the Year

Pupils and staff are delighted that our school is in the running for a School of the Year award in recognition of our charitable nature.

Every year Eden Girls’ School takes part in the First Give programme, a project which aims to encourage young people to take positive action within their communities to address issues that concern them.

The First Give awards, which take place in London next week, aim to recognise the outstanding contributions made by schools, teachers and students through the First Give programme.

Eden Girls’ School has been working with First Give since 2015, when the school first opened. Over the last two years all of our pupils have benefited from the First Give programme and been able to offer support to a range of charities in the Slough area, including cancer charities, a food bank, charities supporting homeless people and a trust that supports terminally ill children and their families. This includes financial support of £3,000 over two years, thanks to the money awarded by First Give to the winning classes in each year of the programme.

The School of the Year nomination recognises our commitment to fostering a charitable ethos among all pupils.

Our Principal Karim Murcia commented, “I’m very proud that every single one of our pupils has benefited from the First Give programme. Their programme is a practical vehicle for achieving our aim to encourage pupils to take positive social action and has enabled us to fulfil our mission to serve our local community.

“Through working with First Give and engaging with local charities, our pupils are developing a real sense of responsibility to their community.  The work we do with First Give encourages a social conscience and supports young people to develop the skills and confidence to take positive action. Working with people from a variety of charities in and around Slough, our pupils have seen how their fundraising is making a difference in our local community.”

We will find out if we are to bring the School of the Year award home to Slough at the First Give awards ceremony in London’s City Hall on the evening of Monday 2 October.

One Eden Girls’ School pupil will be centre stage at the awards presentation evening, having been selected at one of two MCs for the event. After impressing the judges with her public speaking prowess at the 2016 First Give final, Year 10 pupil Zunaira Bilqees was invited to take on this role.

Zunaira Bilqees said, “I feel honoured that I am going to be representing the school at such a prestigious event.

“I think First Give is a fantastic programme that has really benefitted me. It took me on an amazing journey that developed me as a person and has made me more confident.”

Karim Murcia added, “To be nominated as School of the Year at First Give’s annual awards is testament to the wonderful efforts of our pupils and the difference they have made in our local community. To have Zunaira selected as one of the hosts of the awards makes me doubly proud.”

Added By: Eden Girls' School, Slough | Date Added: 9th Oct 2017 | Posted In: Latest News