A COMMUNITY group is helping Shinfield students prepare for their mock GCSE exams on a full stomach.
Helping Hand Shinfield & Spencers Wood delivered a car-full of items to support Oakbank’s new breakfast club project.
Head student Alice posted an appeal on social media in January to ensure students didn’t have to negotiate the February and May exam seasons hungry.
Year 11 students sat their mock GCSE exams in the week before half term and will continue during their first week back.
Sarah O’Neill, Helping Hand’s co-organiser, said: “A few people tagged us on the post and it was great to see so many people wanting to chip in and help out.
“Because we already had the foodbank box on the porch at Shinfield Community Church, it became a really good place to just say people could just drop bits and bobs there.
“I was so inspired that a young girl would put it upon herself to go and do this. I thought that was absolutely terrific from the younger generation coming forward, to think about her peers and being passionate about everyone having the same chance.
“I love that there will be a space there [at the school] where there will be a bit of community, camaraderie, probably a bit of pre-exam nerves being alleviated just by being together.”
She communicated with Alice to find out which items were needed and, having collected enough supplies, made the delivery on Friday, February 3.
Students will have toast, cereal, croissants, tea and much more to fuel their brains before they take their all-important exams.
As a nutritionist, Sarah stressed how important the first meal of the day is, especially when faced with the rigours and stresses of exam day.
Rachel Walker is the other half of Helping Hand’s dynamic duo and was keen to add that the issue is not necessarily a case of students not having food at home to eat.
She explained: “It’s just that, for example, parents might have to get out of the house before them so they might not have that prompt telling them to make sure they have their breakfast.
“This is ensuring that, if students are sleeping in and don’t have time for breakfast, they have something when they come into school. It’s about having the right space and framework in place.
“It’s not because they’ve got bad parents, it’s because they’re got amazing parents who are going out and working really hard.”
Helping Hand runs a weekly food share at Shinfield Community Church as SHARE Shinfield. It ensures that all members of the community have access to high quality food and essentials while minimising food waste.
