Here at Oakfield we are so proud of the many charities we support both by fundraising and by making alternative donations, staff are now supported by learners, as part of the college curriculum by our very own dedicated Community Skills Group through college enrichment.

Our Community Skills Group - learners make the decision to become a part of this group at the beginning of the academic year, looking at all the different ways we may help support the community we live in by giving a little back into it. This also gives our learners the opportunity to build on skills for life and life after they leave Oakfield by participating in successfully organising whole school events.

Our aim is to help to make a difference in our school, college and also in the community we live in both locally and nationally. We have set national charities which we support and also closer to home local charities which are close to our hearts.

The learners attend sessions every Friday morning to share ideas, plan and organise future projects/events and to take any ideas forward. We also visit the places within the local community where our donations go to, to ensure our learners fully understand that their hard work and effort is worthwhile.

To date this year our Community Skills Group have been actively involved, facilitated by staff in organising a variety of fundraising events:

Macmillan – The World’s Biggest Coffee Shop

Harvest Food item collection – Donated to The Brick Food Bank in Wigan

Children in Need – Coffee Shop and Bingo

Wrap Up Wigan – Donated Winter coats/accessories to The Brick charity in Leigh campaign.

Christmas Shoe Box Appeal – Donation items brought into school taken to the Salvation Army in Manchester.

Wigan and Leigh Hospice – Sold Christmas Plushies around school/college

Flower Raffle – Donated to the bereavement costs of an ex Oakfield learner

Christmas Jumper Day – Staff/Learners wore Christmas Themed Jumpers/accessories

NSPCC National Number Day – Wear a number on your top day/Maths Activity Day

Mental Health Awareness Café - delivered invitations to our school/college neighbours.

They also have future plans this year to support:

Comic Relief

Mental Health Awareness week coffee shop

Grow your mind community garden – seed donations