Friends of Dodford Parents Association

Registered Charity Number: 1109591

Friends of Dodford School is our dedicated Parents Association, made up of a small but enthusiastic group of parents who work together to raise additional funds and provide exciting opportunities for the children at Dodford First School.

Our aim is to support the school community by organising fundraising activities, bringing families together and helping to provide those extra experiences, resources and opportunities that make school life even more enjoyable and memorable for our children.

We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to enjoy a rich and varied school experience. Through the generosity of our families, friends and wider community, we are able to raise valuable funds that help to enhance the learning environment and support the children's educational journey.

Every contribution, no matter how big or small, helps us to make a positive difference to our school and the children who attend it.

How Do We Support Our School?

The money raised through our fundraising events and community activities goes directly towards providing additional resources, experiences and opportunities for the children at Dodford First School.

While the school's budget covers essential educational needs, our fundraising enables us to provide those special extras that might otherwise not be possible.

Over the years, funds raised by Friends of Dodford School have helped to support a wide range of activities and resources, including:

Trips, Outings and Special Experiences

We help to fund educational visits, school trips and exciting experiences that enrich the children's learning beyond the classroom. These include supporting transport costs for trips and events such as Young Voices, as well as contributing towards the Year 4 residential experience.

These opportunities allow children to develop confidence, independence, friendships and lasting memories during their time at Dodford First School.

Seasonal Celebrations and Special Occasions

We love helping to make special occasions throughout the school year even more magical for our children. Our fundraising helps to provide:

• Christmas gifts from Santa, ensuring that every child can enjoy a little extra festive magic.

• Christmas crafts and creative activities to celebrate the festive season.

• Easter eggs and Easter-themed crafts for the children to enjoy.

• Year 4 leavers' gifts to celebrate the children's achievements and mark the end of their time at Dodford First School.

These little extras help to create happy memories and make important moments in the school calendar even more special.

Outdoor Learning and Play

Outdoor learning is an important part of children's development, providing opportunities to explore, investigate, be creative and learn through practical experiences.

Our fundraising helps to purchase additional outdoor learning materials and resources, supporting the school in creating an engaging and stimulating environment where children can develop new skills, build confidence and enjoy learning outside the classroom.

Educational Resources and Technology

We also support the school by helping to purchase additional learning resources that enhance the children's education and provide opportunities for them to develop their knowledge and skills.

Examples of resources purchased or supported through fundraising include:

• iPads and other technology to support digital learning.

• Books and reading materials to encourage a love of reading.

• Online learning platforms and educational programmes.

• Additional classroom resources to support teaching and learning.

By helping to provide these valuable extras, we aim to ensure that all children benefit from a stimulating, enjoyable and well-resourced learning environment.

Fundraising and Community Events

Fundraising is at the heart of what we do, but Friends of Dodford School is about much more than raising money.

Our events and activities also provide opportunities for parents, carers, children, staff and members of the wider community to come together, get to know one another and celebrate being part of the Dodford First School family.

We are always keen to explore new fundraising ideas and welcome suggestions for activities that will bring our school community together while raising money for the children.

Whether it is supporting an event, helping with preparations, donating items, sharing ideas or simply coming along and taking part, every contribution helps to make our fundraising efforts a success.

The continued support of our families and local community is incredibly valuable, and we are grateful to everyone who gives their time, energy and support to help us achieve our goals.

Get Involved – We Would Love Your Help!

Friends of Dodford School is currently a small group of parents, and we would love to welcome more members to our team.

As a Parents Association, we rely on the kindness, enthusiasm and support of parents, carers and volunteers who want to make a difference to the school community.

Getting involved is a fantastic way to meet other parents, share ideas, become more involved in school life and help provide exciting opportunities for all our children.

You do not need any previous experience to get involved – just a willingness to help and a desire to make a positive difference!

There are lots of ways you can support Friends of Dodford School, depending on your interests, skills and availability.

You could help by:

• Joining our Parents Association and attending our termly meetings.

• Sharing new and creative ideas for fundraising events and activities.

• Helping to organise, prepare for or run fundraising events.

• Volunteering your time to support activities throughout the school year.

• Offering practical support, resources or skills that could benefit our fundraising efforts.

• Encouraging friends, family members and members of the wider community to support our events.

We understand that family life can be busy and that everyone has different commitments. Whether you can offer a little time occasionally or would like to take on a more active role, your support would be greatly appreciated.

Even the smallest contribution can help us achieve something wonderful for our children.

Parents Association Meetings

Friends of Dodford School holds meetings on a termly basis to discuss fundraising opportunities, plan upcoming events, share ideas and consider how best to use the funds raised to support the school.

Meetings may take place via Microsoft Teams or at a local venue, making it easier for parents and carers to get involved.

We would particularly welcome parents who are able to commit to attending our termly meetings and who would like to play an active role in planning and supporting our fundraising activities.

Our meetings provide a friendly and welcoming opportunity to share your thoughts, contribute new ideas and work together towards a common goal: making the children's experience at Dodford First School the very best it can be.

Interested in Joining Us?

If you would like to volunteer, have some fantastic fundraising ideas, are able to attend our termly meetings or would simply like to find out more about how you can support Friends of Dodford School, we would love to hear from you.

Please get in touch by emailing your name, contact telephone number and any ideas or suggestions you may have to:

friendsofdodfordfirstsch@outlook.com 

Thank you for supporting Friends of Dodford School – every helping hand, every idea and every contribution makes a difference!