With Christmas just three weeks away schools across the country are busy preparing for the festive season.
A Manchester secondary school is doing its bit to send a message of inclusion, kindness and goodwill at this time of year by unveiling a buddy bench in its grounds.
Staff and pupils at Saint Paul’s Catholic High School in Wythenshawe were inspired by the story of Christian Bucks, an eight-year-old from Pennsylvania who came up with the idea of a designated bench where students feeling lonely or upset can seek camaraderie. The idea has since spread to schools around the world.
“We raised £500 to buy our own buddy bench and believe it will help to eliminate loneliness and foster friendship in the playground,” said Angie Holland, assistant progress leader for year 7 at Saint Paul’s.
“We want to be a school where people help each other, cheer each other on, share with one another, think of others and focus on building a strong community.”
The Saint Paul’s buddy bench, which bears the message “no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted”, has been placed in the year 7 play area. The school has appointed a group of year 10 students as “students offer support” leaders (SOS for short), who will sit on the buddy bench at lunchtime every day and help year 7 pupils to make friends.
The bench was officially launched by three year 7 girls, Lily O’Hare, Molly Betney and Rosie Macauley, all of whom have been commended for acts of kindness this term.
When Molly and Rosie found £120 at school they immediately handed it in – much to the gratitude of the school’s student support officer Wayne Hardy, who had dropped it.
Meanwhile, Lily stopped in the street to help an elderly lady tie her shoelaces. A member of the public saw Lily’s gesture and rang the school to tell them about her kindness.
“Sometimes it’s the really simple ideas that can make the difference,” said deputy headteacher Tina Wilkinson.
“All the children know that they can go and sit on the buddy bench if they are feeling lonely and that someone will offer to play with them.”