Throughout the week, GO! continued its projects with Whiteley Village. Our students began the morning by enhancing the surrounding gardens with colourful flowers and plants. In the afternoon, they entertained residents with an engaging treasure hunt. Cleverly written clues were hidden in creatively named spots such as The Sleeping Buddha, Wilfred the Elephant, and Joey the Budgie. The final treasure was concealed in a newly created Gnome Village that students Eva, Zoe, and Lucy meticulously built that morning. Delightfully, student Hugo partnered with 85-year-old Beryl from Whiteley Village. Hugo shared: "She was really interesting; she told me she wishes she was 14 again. I wished she was too; I think we would be great friends."

At Cardinal Newman School, our project involved students collaborating effectively with Year 4 pupils to clear a site and build a den in the school field. Together, they enthusiastically cleared overgrown shrubs to create a perfect little nook for the den. Armed with tarpaulin and rope, they constructed a great hideaway for the younger pupils to enjoy during playtime.

The school projects are cherished moments where our students generously give their time and step out of their comfort zones. They engage in outdoor play, interact with students during break times, and serve as excellent role models and ambassadors for St George’s.

This year, GO! welcomed three new partner groups: Philip Southcote, a special educational needs school; Abbey Chase care home; and Quest RDA, a charity providing therapeutic horse riding for people with disabilities.

At Philip Southcote, our students provided valuable classroom support. Teachers at Philip Southcote responded with such positive feedback that they expressed a desire for future collaborations with St George’s.

At Abbey Chase care home, residents warmly welcomed our students. They bonded over activities such as competitive bingo games and quizzes, forming friendships within moments. One resident even remarked: "Please come back tomorrow; you were my lucky charm."

Quest RDA aims to enhance the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities through therapeutic horse activities. Our students had the opportunity to meet the horses, observe a lesson, and engage in activities like planting flowers and creating a herb garden, all contributing to enriching the riding experience.

Our Salvation Army projects included helping at a toddler playgroup, entertaining elderly guests, and successfully organising and sorting foodbank supplies. Reflecting on their experiences, one student admitted: "I thought Outreach was going to be boring, sorry Miss, but it was really fun!"

As part of our collaboration with the Lumen Trust of schools, our pupils travelled to Darley Dene School in Addlestone, Echelford School in Ashford, Riverbridge School in Staines, Saxon School in Shepperton, and Walton Oak in Walton-on-Thames. They assisted with Sports Days, Career Days, and even helped organise the schools' own Olympic Games. Our partners at The Lumen Learning Trust are vital to our Georgian outreach and we extend our thanks to the whole team. They always ensure that our projects are structured and fun, and that our pupils thoroughly enjoy them.

At the end of the week, Mrs Bicarregui shared her perspective: “When our young people take time to connect with older members of the local community, who often feel isolated, we know they have learnt valuable lessons in empathy and compassion that are almost impossible to absorb in a classroom. Watching the students embrace our various GO! Projects, stepping out of their comfort zones and engaging so meaningfully with new challenges make me incredibly proud and can be very moving to witness. I am confident that GO! Week instils in our students a greater sense of agency and responsibility for their local community and others and equips them with a greater sense of confidence to be the change they may want to see. It has been a privilege to be part of GO!"

The vision of GO! is to ensure that, every St George’s graduate has participated in community volunteering. We are committed to making this vision a reality.