Fairfax Academy Charity Week: Caring students from Fairfax Academy used the school’s annual charity week to raise hundreds of pounds for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Every year the Sutton Coldfield academy – which is the founding school of the ambitious Fairfax Multi Academy Trust – holds a week where its four houses support good causes.
And with 2026’s Charity Week due to take place in just a few weeks’ time, four inspirational Year 11 girls handed a cheque for more than £600 to the much-loved children’s hospital which they raised last year.
Florence Kinson, Mary Cox, Leah Willis and Qu-wana Raymond, all in Stratford house, took the initiative last January to organise a brilliant fundraising drive for a cause close to their hearts.
Leah explained: “We all contributed towards a big prize basket for a raffle, filled with sweets, chocolates and gift cards. We went around promoting the raffle to get as many students as possible involved. We sold a lot of tickets – more than we expected!”
Florence said: “We would enter classrooms during form time, and we would announce that we were raising money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.”
It was an especially important fundraising drive for Mary, who herself is a former patient at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Mary added: “This is a large school where everyone has unique personal experiences and having spent a long period of time in Birmingham Children’s Hospital myself, it meant a lot to me to raise money for the hospital.
“It was a really enjoyable experience for the four of us to go around the school every form time, speak to staff and persuade students to get involved.”
Qu-wana said: “Students contributed from every year, from Year 7 to Year 13. All the teachers got really involved too.
“We’re all so proud of ourselves. We didn’t think we’d raise anywhere near £600, so we’re amazed at our achievement.”
“We have a lot of friendly competition between houses at our school, but Fairfax Academy Charity Week is a time when the four houses really come together, even though we’re all raising for different charities.
– martin porter
Martin Porter, who is now Head of Year 11 at Fairfax, was Head of Stratford House last year when the girls raised the impressive sum.
Mr Porter said: “The girls were instrumental in choosing the charity. They put it forward to a whole-house vote, and of the 400 students in Stratford, a majority chose Birmingham Children’s Hospital. It’s a charity close to a lot of people’s hearts, as we have many students who have been treated there before.
“The girls were completely independent – they chose to put the prize hamper together and use their mornings to go around and raise money. They even sold tickets at Parents Evenings!
“We have a lot of friendly competition between houses at our school, but Fairfax Academy Charity Week is a time when the four houses really come together, even though we’re all raising for different charities.
“I’m so proud of what the four girls were able to achieve – they really embody the giving spirit we have at Fairfax.”
Dale Harris, a Regional Fundraiser for Birmingham Children’s Hospital covering north Birmingham and adjacent areas, was invited to the presentation of the money raised.
He said: “It’s great to be invited here to Fairfax to meet the students who put in so much hard work. Since we’re a children’s hospital, it means a lot to see children in our area actively choosing to make a difference and support us.
“We’re currently launching our emergency department appeals. In recent years we’ve been focused on our ‘It Starts Here’ appeal, which was about renovating our front entrance – now we’re looking to improve our emergency department.
“Donations like this one from Fairfax are vital to our charity. We support the hospital in any way we can, from improving the environment, funding equipment and anything to make life easier for patients and their families.”
Stratford house are now in the process of planning this year’s Charity Week initiatives.
Current Head of House, Haleema Ahmed, said: “We have an upcoming cake sale and have been planning a raffle on ParentPay, which is easily accessible for parents. We also usually have teachers doing leg waxing, which is always funny!
“A big part of the house system here at Fairfax is trying to increase participation in extracurricular events.
“Charity Week is all about social awareness, moral development and empathy, which are key values the children will need in the wider world. It teaches essential lessons about community, fundraising and rallying around a cause you believe in.
“Florence, Mary, Leah and Qu-Wana have absolutely exemplified these values, and we couldn’t be more proud. Today they got to see how their hard work last year has gone towards making a big difference – and how they’re inspiring Stratford’s fundraising plans this year!”