Eden Girls’ School pupils shortlisted for prestigious award

Pupils at Eden Girls’ School, Coventry have been shortlisted for a prestigious national award in recognition of their work in the community during the pandemic.

This summer, pupils from the school will travel to London to take part in the regional finals of the Goldsmiths’ Company Community Engagement Awards, where they will compete for the national title against a selection of schools from across England.

The school was shortlisted after it delivered a range of community initiatives in Coventry. These included setting up and running a foodbank at the school, delivering hot meals to homeless people in the city, providing hygiene packs to help support vulnerable people and carrying out a litter pick and park clean up.

Pupils Moza Ali, Mariya Imaan, Ayman Zaman and Rihan Osman presented the range of community initiatives in front of a panel of six judges, including Judith Cobham-Lowe OBE, a Liveryman and former Prime Warden (equivalent to Chair) of the Goldsmiths’ Company.

Anand Patel, Principal at Eden Girls’ School, Coventry, praised pupils and Teacher of Geography and Community Service Lead, James McCormick, for their exceptional work.

He said: “We are all very proud of our pupils and to be shortlisted for this award is an incredible honour.

“Throughout the pandemic, our pupils have shown a remarkable commitment to helping others and to contributing towards building a strong and vibrant community.

“We are all very excited by this incredible opportunity and our pupils have had a wonderful time taking part in the awards.”

The Goldsmiths’ Company Community Engagement Awards were launched in 2019. The student-led awards celebrate schools’ charitable and voluntary initiatives within their local communities.

Judges praised the team at Eden Girls’ School, Coventry for their presentation and for the impact that their initiatives had on the local community. They also recognised that the initiative presented pupils with an opportunity to develop their own leadership skills and inspire philanthropy.

Commenting on why the Goldsmiths’ Company had created the award, Judith Cobham-Lowe OBE said:

“These activities are of vital importance to many people, but often go unrecognised. The Goldsmiths’ Company Community Engagement Award recognises the unsung heroes in schools up and down the country – young people who have given their time, energy and ideas to outstanding initiatives that support our local communities.”

Finalists will be invited to the magnificent Goldsmiths’ Hall in London for a ceremony and a chance to showcase their community engagement activities. A gold winner and a silver winner will be announced on the day of the finals. The winning schools will each receive a beautiful award, specially designed by the artist-craftsman Tom Fattorini, as well as a cash prize to support the continuation and expansion of existing community programmes.

Added By: Star Academies | Date Added: 20th Apr 2021 | Posted In: Latest News