On Saturday 21st September, the Beachborough Prep community came together to support the charity, Dogs for Good.
This amazing UK charity based locally to Beachborough Prep, in Banbury, Oxfordshire trains dogs to help adults and children with physical disabilities and learning disabilities, children with autism and adults with dementia. These specially trained dogs enable people with a diverse range of conditions, to live happier, healthier and more independent lives.
Beachborough Prep has pledged to raise £5,000 to sponsor a puppy through it’s training ahead of it being partnered as a companion to someone who needs help to cope with life’s challenges. As a registered charity, Dogs for Good rely solely on donations to fund their work to make life possible and hen sponsoring a dog, you are supporting their journey to one day transform someone’s life.
And so, the planning for the Beachborough Prep Dog Show began and with an army of staff and parent volunteers behind it, was set to be a huge success.
Open to the whole of the Beachborough Prep community and based at our 35-acre school site in Westbury, Northamptonshire, dogs could be entered into categories of Hot Dog, Prettiest Pooch, Puppy Love, Most Like Owner, Waggiest Tail and the overall, Top Dog!
Fundraising stalls opened from 1pm providing dog-inspired games and treats such a pin the tail on the dog, lucky dip, guess the name of the dog and dog-inspired temporary tattoos! Refreshments were provided by Marks Ices, Really Awesome Coffee and there was a delicious barbeque.
Stall holders such a Polka dot Pie were in attendance, selling their huge, brightly coloured array of accessories such as pooch neckerchief’s, collar and lead sets and Argentinian polo belts and Hoody’s Sustainable Dog Food provided the treats for our furry friends! There was a Beachborough Prep auction of dog inspired artwork and of course, Dogs for Good were on hand with two of their fully trained support dogs and volunteers to answer questions and talk about their charity work.
Over 150 people attended the event including parents, staff and our alumni, Old Beachburians and, many dogs went home with rosettes attached to their collars. The judging panel included Dr John Taylor, of Taylor Vets based in Brackley who was more than happy to announce the overall winders of each category.
Organiser of the event, Mrs Sally Gross, Teacher at Beachborough Prep and Head of Charity said of the event,
“Charity work at Beachborough Prep is an integral part of life here at the school and our community has always been committed to fundraising. Our parents are huge supporters of our latest charity initiatives, and the children go above and beyond to help others and for that, we are very grateful. This event was no exception, and it was so wonderful to have so many keen volunteers and attendees on board to help ensure the day was a success. Even the mid-event downpour did not stop us (or the dogs) and spirits were high in aid of this wonderful charity. We cannot wait to share with you the fundraised amount for Dogs for Good, so far.”
Throughout the year, Beachborough Prep organises many different events and the whole school is involved – from the youngest learners in our Reception Class, through to the teenagers in Form VIII. Along with our committed parent association, Beachborough Friends, we collect sponsorship, sell raffle tickets, host bake sales, attend pool parties and camp-out at Beachborough Prep, all in aid of raising money for those in need.
Raising money is part of the ethos of our school and our motto ‘Conemur tenues Grandia,’ – although we are small, let us try for great things – shows that we really can give back. Charity work unleashes children’s creativity and encourages them to be enterprising as well as helping them to become kind and responsible citizens, demonstrating our Intellectual Characteristics of Empathy, Originality, Curiosity, Reflection, Challenge, Collaboration and Perseverance and Resilience, broadening our minds and making us part of the wider world.
