Courageous Advocates

What is a Courageous Advocate?

A Courageous Advocate is someone who champions a cause which is special and meaningful to them.

At Hathersage St. Michael's Church of England (Aided)  Primary School we have a strong emphasis on encouraging our pupils to become Courageous Advocates, not just locally, but nationally and globally.

At some point in life we will all face challenges and may need support to help us overcome these barriers. We teach our children that it is important to help others when we can, no matter who they are, where they come from or what challenges they may face. We teach this through the teachings of the Bible and learning about other Courageous Advocates. Our Christian Values ( Our Golden Values) enable carefully planned opportunities in our curriculum to ensure that the children regularly discuss and debate the big issues, to challenge injustice and to engage in activities that can bring about change.

Courageous Advocacy links very much to our  foundation: Luke 10: v25-37, The Parable of the Good Samaritan. ‘Jesus told him, Go and do likewise’ which we do through 'Learning, Laughing and Living'

It is important for our children to appreciate their role as part of our school family and wider community; to take responsibility, to be able to look after themselves & to foster an understanding of their importance, impact and influence in the world. We have worked closely with Hope Valley Climate Action Group on a variety of projects and with Hathersage Horticultural Group to improve our school grounds and wildlife environment. Children across the school often wish to 'do something' to help the local community or the wider world. For example, children have made pancakes outside their home and sold them to help fund Capital projects in school, children have litter picked on the way to school to help the wildlife in their area, children have requested we do something to support children in war torn areas having seen a news report and some children set up a fundraising page to raise funds to help Ukrainian children s they walked  from The Peak District to the Ukrainian Centre in Manchester. Please see our Courageous Advocacy Display Board in the school hall where we celebrate our Courageous Advocates.

We support a range of charities in our local area, nationally and globally. In recent years we have carried out a range of different fund raising to support many good causes, some of which include:

• Christian Aid;

• a local food bank;

•  Sports Relief;

•  Comic Relief;

•  Children in Need;

• Children in the Ukraine;
• The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal;
• Bangladesh Flood Victims

Our children have an excellent grasp on the meaning of belonging to a local and global community and the sense of responsibility that comes with belonging. Thereby developing their ability to empathise and make a small sacrifice to benefit others. Together we consider the beauty and fragility of our environment, the actions we take, and the impact these actions may have on the well-being of everyone. Our school community and curriculum actively embraces a responsibility for the world in which we live. We are diligent to show our connection with, and care for, the world in which we all live and care for the people who live in it:

• Links with the local care home (reading; Christmas carols; musical performance)
• Charities of significance to our children;
• Well Dressing
• Junior Church Choir & Key Stage 2 Choir perform for the community and at community events e.g. Blessing of the Well, Hathersage Choir Captain Noah.
• Hope Valley Climate Action activities
• Strong PTFA with community events such as Christmas and Summer Fayres, discos and plant sales;
• School advertises and supports local events;
• Head Teacher reports to the  Parochial Parish Council and writes in the annual gala pamphlet to reach out to the community.

Examples of Courageous Advocacy by members of our school can be found on a display in our school hall.