COMMUNITY SERVICE
King's College Community Service (KCCS)
runs on Monday afternoons and gives
pupils an opportunity to give something
back to King's or the local community by
doing voluntary work.
This year some pupils helped out in
classes at Holway Primary School, St.
George's School and Selworthy School.
Apart from helping out the schools
concerned, this was an excellent
opportunity of gaining experience for
those pupils who think they might like to
become teachers.
Several of the
Sixth Form pupils
volunteered at
Musgrove Park
Hospital this
year, where they
were involved in
activities such
as carrying out
patient surveys.
There were also
many pupils
who helped out
at charity shops in Taunton or visited
local sheltered accommodation to chat to
residents, make cups of tea etc.
Closer to home, there was also scope to
help out within King's. Some pupils helped
in the Development Office or the Library,
while others assisted Mrs Mason in the
Archives - a particularly useful task
in the run-up to the First World War
commemorations.
PREP AND PRIMARY
SCHOOL FOOTBALL
A very popular Monday activity is primary
school football coaching. Before they
were let loose, this year's students were
all guided through an FA Junior Football
Leaders Award and the FA Football
Futures Volunteering programme.
Regular Monday visits from over 30
Trinity Primary School children were
lively occasions. As well as helping the
younger children with their football
skills, the sessions also benefitted the
King's volunteers, honing leadership and
team skills. The volunteers also went out to prep schools to provide coaching,
including to St Peter's, Sherborne,
Sandroyd, Holm Grange and St Neots -
some of these as far away as Hampshire.
The young coaches also hosted
primary and prep school Area and County
tournaments, as well as inter-House
football and futsal events, with schools
such as Knighton House, Elstree and
our own King's Hall. They also took on
fundraising for tours - indeed anything
to do with football that happened in
school. Much of this is arranged through
MASH Up and Team 16, which are
national programmes overseen by the
Football Association.
The more experienced students
worked towards their full FA Level
1 Coaching qualification. Eighteen
students from Fourth Form to 6.1
followed the programme. Some are
pictured here with their certificates.
STAGE CREW
The stage crew option gives pupils the
chance to gain an insight into how the
theatrical backstage world works, while
also offering a valuable service to the
school's theatre.
Each week the team were given a
selection of jobs around the theatre and
drama department, sometimes tidying
the prop and costume store or helping
set up sound, lighting and projection
equipment. All helped in the school's
theatrical productions, including Guys
and Dolls, in lighting, sound, sets and
special effects.
Highlights of the year included a trip to
two of Exeter's theatres. At the Barnfeild
Theatre stage crew were treated to
a backstage tour and an informative
history of the theatre. After a bite to
eat at Cathedral Green's ASK pizza restaurant it was off to Exeter Phoenix
to see a contemporary arts centre at
work; particular note was made of the
modern art in the galleries.
Stage crew volunteers this year were:
Miranda Bentley, Kuumba Agbami,
Francsca Aczel, Kate Aston, George
Ferguson, Guy Fenton, Olivia Wu, Anya
Dooley, Jasper Nabert, Alex Smith, Katie
Samuels and Amy Todd.
Stage crew is run by Mr Marcus Bartlett,
who has spent years both creating and
performing in the arts industry, having
worked as technical manager at Exeter
Phoenix and toured with Exeter-based
Theatre Alibi as Lighting Designer, as
well as working for the RSC.
PRIMARY SCHOOL
ATHLETICS
Some pupils chose as their Monday
afternoon service activity to help
coach athletics in primary schools.
This involves first devising coaching
sessions and then putting them
into practice with pupils of 12
local primary schools, which the
volunteers visit on a rota basis.
The schools are also invited to
attend events in the King's sports
hall, as well as monthly cross-country
races to give them the chance to
demonstrate the skills they have
learned.
As well as the benefits to the
primary children, the King's pupils
are given the chance to develop
leadership and personal management
skills, and can be accredited as
Sports Leaders of various levels, with
NGB coaching badges and Frist Aid
certificates.
Service Activities
On Monday afternoons, there are many opportunities for pupils to help out
in the school and wider community
Linda Brosig helps in the
Archives for Community
Service
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