Community Service Group

The Community Service Group (CSG) is a flourishing organisation through which boys can make a positive, practical, and self-determined response to real needs in the wider community outside the school. At the same time they develop a sharper sense of their own social awareness and learn valuable skills of team work, organisation, and leadership. At present there are about 90 boys involved in CSG work on a Wednesday afternoon or at other times in the week.

The main areas of work are:

• helping the aged by offering companionship, and assisting with gardening, shopping, and decorating;
• helping the young in primary schools, children's homes, and youth clubs;
• helping the ill in local hospitals;
• helping disabled people in local schools, homes, and clubs (for example teaching autistic children to swim);
• working in local charity shops;
• supporting local Conservation projects such as the Kent Wildlife Trust and Hildenborough Conservation Group

Many boys develop close relationships with those they visit and will see them at least once a week during term-time. Day boys often continue with these visits into the holidays. Other boys participate in weekend and evening projects, particularly with youth clubs and organisations for the disabled. The work can be difficult and is always challenging so it demands and encourages sensitivity, sympathy, initiative, and responsibility: to many boys membership of the CSG brings increased self-confidence and a discovery of their real personal worth to others.

It is almost two years since I first decided to visit Addi. I did so because I felt that it was time I did something for the community, for other people, for whom a visit once a week really makes an impact on their lives. Despite the serious barrier her disability created at first, we are now very close friends, able to share jokes, and never fail to find something to talk about. Nothing beats the feeling I have when I walk away from Addi's home, knowing I have made a difference to her week.

Chris Burke (CH 2003-2008)

In early July the whole of the Lower Sixth, working in pairs or small groups, also spend a day helping out various community group projects.