Parents and Friends Association
PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF NEWBRIDGE AND HATCHSIDE SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION, (PFA)
As a parent/carer of a pupil at Newbridge or Hatchside School, you are automatically a member of the PFA. Staff, friends and family are also welcome. We meet four times a year online and plan activities to fundraise for both schools. We welcome all new members. Contat newbridgepfa@gmail.com for more details.
Summer Fete 2025
A massive thank you to everyone who volunteered, donated and attended the summer fete on Saturday 14th June, We have raised over £2000 and could not have done it without you!
PFA Chair Report Monday 14 October, 2024
The objectives of our school PFA are to organise fundraising events and activities and make these as much fun as possible for the children and to involve as many people as we can. All funds raised and spent are for the benefit of our Astrum schools. As parents, carers, grandparents, teachers and LSAs of the children of the school, we are automatically members of the PFA and anyone can volunteer to help the PFA at any time no matter how big or small the task and how little free time.
The PFA have had a busy year with numerous events.
We started the year with a quiz night which was a huge success and raised over £600. The half termly themed raffle baskets organised by Theresa at Upper School have been a huge hit and over the year have earned the PFA over £1000
We also have begun selling donated toys at coffee mornings, which has been appreciated and raised some funds. Newbridge lower school held a “Let’s Move day” to raise funds for the minibus, it was a fun day for all and over £50 was raised.
We have been successful in the application to Variety Coaches for a sunshine minibus. The mini bus was allocated to Hatchside School and will enable the pupils to experience a wide variety of activities and outdoor trips which would not otherwise be possible. This is the first minibus for Hatchside school and was part paid by funds from the PFA. A second application for a new minibus for Newbridge School has been submitted, so we are keeping our fingers crossed on that!
The Annual Summer Fete was a wonderful day with sunshine throughout and so many happy faces. We are so grateful for all the support from the sponsors and donors, We raised over £1300 on the day and with matched funding from Barclays Bank, Shell and the donation from Kurtis properties, this brought the total to well over £3000.
Hatchside parents have raised in excess of £1700 for the play deck. Through generous donations.
Upper school have raised money by doing a walk over the O2, these funds will go towards a sound beam.
Ideas for fundraising from the previous meetings were put in to place, some ideas were:
· Easy Fundraising
· Xmas for schools
· raffles
· quiz night
I think that especially as we grow we need to encourage each site to concentrate on fundraising for specific items for their school, this may help to engage more parents.
We have some wonderful suggestions on how to continue to grow and raise funds, but this can only be done if we have the manpower to support the events. There are many opportunities to apply for grants, but without the support in putting together the applications, the funding out there is beyond our reach.
Whilst we celebrate our successes, I think it is important to recall the demanding workload placed on the few volunteers we have in place and we concentrate on strategies to recruit more volunteers.
I welcome any further ideas we can make to ensure our continued success in fundraising.
Ameena Gilani
We continue with our easy fundraising campaign
Easy fundraising is an easy and free way for anyone who shops online to donate to the PFA. Download the app and do your on-line shopping via easyfundraising and the retailer will make a proportionate donation to the PFA with no cost to you. www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/newbridge-pfa/ With over 8000 retailers participating, every penny you spend will make a difference to the PFA.
