Who are we?
Friends of Melbourne School is a registered charity. The group currently consists of 17 parents who work alongside the school. We organise and run fundraising events for the school community. All funds are spent either directly, or indirectly, on the children, adding to their experience at school.
What is our aim?
Our aim is to use the funds raised to enhance the experiences of every child in the school, from improving sporting facilities to extending the range and access pupils have to excellent reading material. Our target is to raise at least £2000 each school year, and we have a calendar of events lined up which will be fun for everyone as well as raising money for the school.
**If any parent has a suggestion as to what the money could be used for, please contact the Friends of Melbourne School.**
Where does the money raised go?
In recent years we have raised money to build the Forest School and funded the Forest School teacher training. Then, together with kind donations from local businesses, we provided 30 new iPads. We have also bought reading books, glockenspiels, funded a visiting school pantomime and contributed to the cost of school trips.
Friends of Melbourne School also purchase the book bags each child is provided with when they start school in nursery or reception, and provide a contribution towards hoodies for our Y6 leavers, ice pops at sports day, Christmas crackers for the Christmas lunches and a ‘gift from Santa’.
We are currently fundraising to replace the play equipment on the school field.
What type of events/activities do we do?
In the past couple of years we have organised the following events:
- Halloween Disco
- Valentine’s Disco
- Christmas Carols in the Playground with refreshments, raffle, sweet and cakes stalls as well as games
- Raffles at the school Christmas performances
- Easter egg Tombola
- Days out raffle
- Leavers’ disco
- Summer Bash, including bottle tombola, games, second-hand uniform sale and sweet stall
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Bags2school collections (twice each year)
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Second-hand book sale
Interested in joining us? When and where do we meet?
Being part of the committee is not a huge commitment and it is very rewarding, as well as a great way to meet other parents and have fun being involved in our fundraising events.
We usually meet once a term, during the evening, at a local pub. We would welcome new members to our friendly team. You may only wish to be involved with one event throughout the year or just come along to find out what is coming up. We welcome any ideas you may have for fundraising events or activities and suggestions on ways to spend the money raised. Attending meetings isn’t compulsory; you may wish to be a ‘Friend of the Friends’ and help out at events as and when you can. If you are interested in joining, please get in touch and we will keep you up to date on upcoming events by email or WhatsApp.
You can also keep track of our events and activities by following us on Facebook using this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/249616615561503/?ref=share_group_link (or you can search Facebook- @friendsofmelbourneschool).
How to contact us
We can be contacted via email at melbournefos@gmail.com or why not speak to one of the team directly (current members are listed below). Alternatively if you prefer contact by telephone, please leave a message and a telephone number with the school office and we will get in touch promptly.
List of FOS Members 2024/25:
Emily Barker – Chair
Lesley Charlesworth – Treasurer
Judith Hopley – Secretary
Sinead Wilkinson – Social Media
Mel Taylor – Procurement
Other members – Agnetha Dobson, Sam Thomas, Gemma Storer, Julia Morley, Vicki Parapen, Sarah Van Wyk, Becky Sheard, Gemma Cook, Beth Kendra, Natalie Briscoe, Laura Nicholson Simpson and Hayley Reed
Molly Knowles – Teacher member