Field Day sees Tonbridge boys out and about in the community
Tonbridge Community Action boys took part in a wide-ranging programme of activities during Field Day (Wednesday 5 October).
During the School year, more than 150 boys spend Wednesday afternoons volunteering in all manner of activities, including Science for Schools and Conservation. Field Day gives them the opportunity of spending the whole day working on their projects, leaving them with a broader understanding of the people and the organisations they are working alongside.
One group helped out at Scotts Project Trust – a centre for adults with learning difficulties – in the areas of art, journalism and computer studies, before providing a tour back at Tonbridge of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, currently showing at the Old Big School Gallery.
Others spent their days in primary schools, assisting teachers and joining pupils in a range of activities. One initiative saw boys choosing books from charity shops, wrapping them and writing tantalising messages on the presents, which were then given out to children in a Big Book Mystery Giveaway. The boys then explored the books with the children in an after-school ‘Reading Café’.
Another group spent the day volunteering in the TN2 Centre in Tunbridge Wells, helping to sort donated aid with the Ukrainian Relief Group, while others worked in its offices to help with administration.
As part of Field Day the School also hosted nearly 50 boys, who are in the country under the Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children scheme, for a sporting and cultural day which included a football tournament, five-a-side cricket and a swimming gala. All those taking part made brief presentations to each other via the help of interpreters, with an estimated 16 languages being spoken during the event.
Boys talked about their hobbies and swapped stories about the countries they came from and the food they enjoy.
Juliet Burnett, the School’s Community Action Manager, said: “It is always a deeply enriching day spending time with these young men, who have often left dangerous countries and have had challenging journeys before arriving in the UK. Our Tonbridge boys went away reflecting on the very different lives that people of the same age have had so far. We look forward to welcoming our guests back for other sessions after half term.”
Pictured above: TCA boys unpacking and arranging children’s toys donated to the Ukrainian Relief Group.
