Current Fundraising Projects
Here at Highfield we require lots of additional equipment, projects and specialist services to offer the very best experiences and opportunities for our learners.
Our volunteer-led Highfield Friends and Parents Association (HFPA) host a number of fundraising events and exciting opportunities throughout the year to promote Highfield, involve the wider community and raise crucial funds to improve the school’s facilities and extra-curricular provision for our learners.
We are currently fundraising for the following projects and initiatives which are not part of our statutory education provision but are so critically needed to help our learners:
Specialist Communication Software and iPads – we are currently raising funds to purchase 30 iPads with Grid 3 technology which is a complete communication solution that enables the user to have a voice, control their environment and live a more independent life. The software is designed for anyone with complex communication or access needs and includes a wide range of resources that you can control with touch, switch, eye gaze and pointing devices. The technology will give a voiced to many young people at Highfield who have previously not had one.
Previous Fundraising Projects
Muddy Boots Farm – the creation of Muddy Boots Farm began in early 2022, when the school introduced rabbits and guinea pigs. Some older students work towards qualifications in Animal Care as part if their programme of study but the animals provide opportunities for all learners, ranging from therapeutic benefits to curriculum opportunities in Maths, English, Sciences, Communication and much, much more. We have raised fund as well as applied for grants for the pond, hen house, rabbit mansion and fencing
Outdoor Play – Our trim trail and play equipment are much loved but are now in need of replacement having been installed over 20 years ago. We have asked the children to tell us the kind of equipment they would like (a slide is a very popular choice!) and we are now focussing our fundraising efforts this year on raising the money needed to purchase and install the new equipment. We need to raise around £15,000 so every penny from raffles, cake sales and events will be going to this very worthwhile project.
Restore Our Hall – We organise lots of productions and performances with our learners and the equipment we have is out of date and not really fit for the kind of activities we are organising, like film making, dance shows and Christmas performances. We plan to purchase microphones so that our performers’ wonderful voices can be heard by parents and carers in the audience as well as having stage lighting and audio visual equipment to further enhance performances and film making. Our hall decoration is very dated and we also hope to purchase new curtains, blinds and chairs.
Sow and Grow – Horticulture, gardening, forest schools and outdoor education are really important at Highfield. Our students love to be outside! Our horticulture group are busy renovating and restoring an allotment area at the rear of the school. They have been working really hard to clear the overgrown borders and we have had help from local companies who have built a fruit cage for us as well as painting the shed and building equipment. We are raising funds to purchase and install a greenhouse, buy new tools, seed trays, pots and compost to keep our mini enterprise flourishing. We are thrilled that we have just received a £1000 grant from One Stop Carriers for Causes towards our greenhouse.
Sensory Garden – Help Highfield Bloom – Through grant funding, donated materials, fundraising events and volunteering time we transformed a grassy corner of our grounds into a fully accessible multi-sensory garden in 2018. Our pupils were involved in all aspects of the garden, from design to ongoing horticultural maintenance and now love spending time in the garden.
Aim High at Highfield – We purchased a trampoline & supported training costs of core staff to enable us to offer Rebound Therapy to all of our learners. Rebound Therapy is a nationally accredited exercise therapy which uses trampolines to provide opportunities for movement, therapeutic exercise and recreation for people across the whole spectrum of special needs.
Get Creative at Highfield – We have funded external specialists in dance, art and music therapy. This specialist provision enhances our students learning and interaction at the school and enables them to learn new ways to communicate & engage in creative opportunities.
i-mprove the IT at Highfield School –The HFPA ran, baked and hosted events to raise the funds to transform our IT provision within classrooms. We secured funding for ipads & interactive apps for each class. We invested grant donations into EyeGaze technology and installed i-boards into every classroom.
LEGO Therapy, Sensory Toys & Play Opportunities – We are always in need of robust sensory toys, books and LEGO which are used by all key stages for all learners within the school. We know that play stimulates learning, team work and communication and, well makes our school fun too.
Outdoor Play areas & our Wheely Good Project – Highfield School has extensive outdoor play and recreation areas. In recent years we have raised funds for adapted trikes, a sport wheelchair, scooters and storage, an all-weather table tennis table, outdoor gym equipment, outdoor trampolines and a nest swing.
For more details about any of the above initiatives or other ways you can support Highfield School please contact the HFPA Chair at hfpachair@highfield.cambs.sch.uk or Tel: 01353 662 085
Highfield Friends and Parents Association is a UK registered charity no. 1155274. We use GoFundMe and Paypal for accepting for accepting secure donations and for fundraising events and appeals. We also use Give as You Live for donations as you shop.
If you are able to give any sum, no matter how small, your generosity will be greatly appreciated. Our funds are used to improve the children’s days by supporting fun activities to provide specialist equipment or create new opportunities for our learners.
If you have an idea for a fundraising event or activity, you may wish to set up your own webpage for your supporters to donate online.
Simply click on:
GoFundMe – www.gofund.me/fca9b14f
Paypal – www.paypal.com/paypalme/hfpa
Many businesses have signed up to a charitable scheme, "Give As You Live" whereby a donation is given in return for shopping online. At no extra cost to you, money is transferred directly to Highfield Friends and Parents Association.
The set up process is simple and takes just a few minutes. For first time users, click on the ‘Join Now’ button. Once the registration process is complete, a drop down bar appears on many websites such as: John Lewis, Amazon, eBay, Travelodge, lastminute.com, Debenhams, Marks and Spencer, asos, Expedia, Argos, Next, iTunes, Apple App Store, Thomas Cook, B & Q, Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsburys and many more. You click on the bar to activate the giving process.
Simply click on:
Give as You Live (raise money while you shop, at no extra cost to you)
Give as you Live step by step guide
Thank You to Our Supporters
A2B Taxicabs |
Nails by Katie |
The Missing Sock |
City Cycle Centre, Ely |
Holistic Therapies |
Allen Newport Ltd |
Tesco |
Asda |
Dion Gallichan |
Sainsbury’s |
Planet Laser |
Dumbletons |
Co-Op |
Lisa Kedge Hairdressing |
Woodfen Lodge |
Wilkinson store, Ely |
Prosper Café |
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Cheffins, Ely |
Cicely and Twine |
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Peacocks Tearoom, Ely |
KD Theatre |
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The Almonry Restaurant and Tea Rooms, Ely |
Corner Copia |
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The Eel Catchers Wife |
Waver Tree Café |
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The Freemasons |
Sharp Holistic Beauty |
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The Rotary Club |
Newmarket Races |
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NatWest Group |
Ely Grazing |
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The Thomas Parsons Trust |
La Hogue |
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Grovemere Property |
Shiseido |
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The Eric Drummond-Mercer Memorial Trust |
Molton Brown |
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Screwfix |
Clip and Climb |
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Platinum Properties |
Silver Oak Coffee |
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Ely Fudge Company |
Atrium Gym |
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Tindalls |
South Angle Farm |
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Gin House Flowers |
Oakwood Melts |
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The Porterhouse Pub |
Oliver Cromwell House |
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The Chequers |
The Boot |
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Cambridge Ice Arena |
Britvic |
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Cottenham Colts |
Church Farm |
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Cambridge Architectural Design |
The Raptor Foundation |
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Marks and Spencer |
Nando’s |
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