National Star was selected by the Pupil Leadership Team (PLT) as this year’s College charity. National Star is a local provider of specialist further education, training, personal development and residential services for people with physical and learning disabilities and acquired brain injuries. National Star College itself is situated very close to Cheltenham and our pupils were able to make numerous visits to the site and to spend time with the students who live and study there. In June a number of National Star pupils also visited College and sat in Chapel as Mr Alexander Ffinch entertained them on the organ.

The PLT had a very clear aim – to raise enough money to buy 15 Mollii suits, enough to equip every individual who would benefit from one. A Mollii suit is a comfortable jacket and trousers with built in electro-stimulation for adults and young people living with motor function and other disabilities. Each suit delivers individually programmed electro stimulation to muscle groups over the whole body. This brings help and relief by prompting natural responses of muscle inhibition, muscle activation and pain relief. The suits enhance therapy and exercise to improve movement, muscle function and well-being both with immediate impact and in the long term.

The following events took place throughout the year.

The Fun Run (October): Pupils were sponsored to complete laps of College Field and then an obstacle course fun-run which finished with a messy/crazy/competitive ‘slip and slide’! Houses organised fun/silly/fairground style games and snack stalls afterwards. This event raised nearly £14,000.

Charity Rugby (November): The annual charity rugby match takes place each November at Kingsholm Stadium in Gloucester. Almost 2,500 tickets sold for the match against Sir Thomas Rich’s grammar school. An excited crowd, complete with drums and singing, created a fantastic atmosphere, and though College lost the match, £12,000 was raised through this event.

Charity Netball (March): The College Sports Hall was turned into a seated arena to welcome Malvern College’s 1st VII netball team. Eight hundred spectators, many with coloured pompoms, helped cheer our College team to a win in an exciting, nail-biting match. This event raised £3,500.

These events, together with mufti-days and Chapel collections, helped to raise more than £30,000 for National Star. This was not only enough to buy the suits but also a state-of-the-art drum kit to enhance music lessons, and some left over to support other vital work that National Star wants to do. This will make an enormous difference to so many lives. Thank you to all of you who donated so generously.

Dr Adam Dunning