Dragon School runs Philanthropy in Schools programme

In 2013, the Dragon School in North Oxford ran the scheme for a fifth year, dividing a £2,000 sponsor donation from Dragon Sale Committee between 23 Year 8 students.

Each student used theBigGive.org.uk to short-list two projects of interest. They researched these projects in greater detail and created reports explaining which of the charities would get their support, before donating their charity voucher online.

Students were then divided into groups before discussing their choices with their peers. Each group chose one project to present and elected a spokesperson.

The sponsor and the Big Give representative visited the Dragon School to meet the pupils and hear their presentations on a fantastic range of charities.

All presentations were of a very high standard and each speaker made a very persuasive argument to support their chosen causes.  The winning group presented a case for the Next Einstein Initiative – a charity focused on the teaching of mathematical sciences to African university graduates.  The runner-ups’ charities were Magic Breakfast and Research into Parkinson’s.

So far over 2,000 students in 20 schools across the country have already run the Philanthropy in Schools programme.