As a challenging year comes to an end, two College Principals have come together to make this year’s Christmas a little more special for young people who are less fortunate across Kent and south London.
Wife and husband team Shireen and Graham Razey are both Principals at college groups in south London and east Kent. Their colleges, Christ The King Sixth Forms and EKC Group work in areas with high socio-economic deprivation, and the pair have now decided to try and make Christmas a little bit special for their communities.
Students, staff and wider stakeholders are being asked to contribute to the ‘Christmas Gift Appeal.’ The appeal involves those studying or working with the colleges to donate a small toy or Christmas present, or make a donation, to ensure that those in need still get to experience the joy of receiving something special this Christmas.
Shireen Razey, Principal of Christ the King Sixth Forms, a group of Catholic Sixth Forms in South East London, said: “Our students are keen to make a difference in the local communities where they live and work, many of which have been effected by the pandemic. Our Sixth Forms do a lot of work supporting charities, and we all wanted to make the festive period special for young people who have experienced such hardship this year.”
Both EKC Group and Christ the King Sixth Forms are aiming to get presents that they can distribute to a range of charities working with people in need ahead of Christmas to help make this year a magical one, in spite of the current challenges faced by many across the country.
Graham Razey, Chief Executive Officer at EKC Group, said: “We have a regular programme of youth led social action within our family of six further education colleges and three business units in east Kent. However, this year the pandemic has meant that we’ve been unable to get out into the community and deliver the same amount of positive change we are normally able to. So, this year I wanted to ensure that we were doing something additional to benefit those who might otherwise not have a Christmas that was as special as it might be.”
If you would like to donate to the campaign EKC Group and Christ the King Sixth Forms are asking you to drop presents at either Canterbury College or CTK St Mary’s in Sidcup, CTK Emmanuel in Lewisham or CTK Aquinas in Brockley. You can also donate money at the fundraising page EKC Group and Christ the King Sixth Forms have set up: gf.me/u/y8iw73
