Friends of RPS
Friends of Reepham Primary School (FRPS) is made up of a fantastic group of parents, carers, school staff, teachers and other community members who are constantly looking for fun and exciting ways to help raise additional funds for our school. FRPS is governed independently of the school, and is registered charity number 1052928.
FRPS has been an integral part of our school community for many years and has raised thousands of pounds which has been spent on equipment and resources to enhance our children’s education, the school experience, and the school’s facilities.
The success of the events we run is down to the generous help and support from our parents, headteacher, school staff, teachers, and of course the children. In recent years, FRPS have organised the Summer Fete, Easter Hat Parade, Movie Nights, Pre Loved Clothes Sales and so much more.
The aim of FRPS is more than simply fundraising. It exists to provide closer links between home and school and it is an excellent way to bring staff, parents and friends together socially in support of the school, working towards a common goal.
All parents and members of the school community are encouraged to get involved, even if they only have a small amount of time available. Further ways to get involved are listed below.
Role of the Friends Committee
The Friends of Reepham Primary School consists of four Officers: Chair, Co-Chair, Treasurer and Secretary all of whom are trustees, as well as a number of other committee members.
Our current officers are:
- Chair: Rose Levien
- Co Chair: India Sowe
- Treasurer: Mellody Challis
- Secretary: Clare Starling
The Committee holds planning meetings on a regular basis, with smaller working groups meeting as necessary when we are organising large events. You are welcome to join us at any of these to share your ideas and views.
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Our Annual General Meeting is held in the autumn term and provides an opportunity for all parents to come along and hear in more detail about the work of the FRPS, the events we have run, the funds we have raised and how the money has been spent. It is also the occasion when we elect our new committee members.
What we use the money for
Money raised at our events is used for various enrichment projects and equipment throughout the school. In recent years we have purchased outdoor equipment to enable more outdoor learning, table tennis tables, ipads, provided funding for a Malawi teacher to come over to our school, Christmas entertainment, author workshops, and a class budget (for all those extra little things that help the teachers!). Each year we review how funds raised will be spent for that year.
It is not all about how much money we can raise, we operate to give every child the opportunity to enjoy social events within school. We are currently working towards getting more involved with the community and joining forces with local organisations.
How you can support us
We welcome support at whatever capacity you can offer. There are opportunities to join the committee, or assist with a particular event, or volunteer on the day. You can also support us through other ways such as registering with Easyfunding and making your Amazon purchases through Amazon Smile. Details of these are below.
The Friends of Reepham Primary School do amazing work for and with the school but they are always looking for new members, new ideas and new suppliers so if you are interested in becoming a part of this incredible organisation, then contact us at reephamfriends@gmail.com or via the school office.
Making a donation
You can make a secure donation through Paypal. There are no fees and 100% of your donation goes to Friends of Reepham Primary School. Alternatively, you can write a cheque payable to Friends of Reepham Primary School and hand this to the school office who will pass it to the Friends Treasurer. If you would prefer any other method, please contact us at reephamfriends@gmail.com.
Paypal
Click the Donate button below.
EasyFundraising
Did you know that whenever you buy anything online – from your weekly shop and everyday purchases through to your annual holiday – you could be raising free donations for Friends of Reepham Primary School with easyfundraising?
There are over 4,000 shops and sites on board ready to make a donation – including eBay, Argos, John Lewis, ASOS, Booking.com and M&S – and it won’t cost you a penny extra to help us raise funds.
All you need to do is:
- Go to https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/frps/ and join for free.
- Every time you shop online, go to easyfundraising first to find the site you want and start shopping.
- After you’ve checked out, the retailer will make a donation to Friends of Reepham Primary School at no extra cost to you whatsoever!
There are no catches or hidden charges and Friends of Reepham Primary School will be really grateful for your donations.
Amazon Smile
You can raise money for Reepham Primary School by shopping online through Amazon Smile. There are no catches and it's really simple – just shop online via www.smile.amazon.co.uk and select Friends of Reepham Primary School as the charity you wish to support.
On qualifying purchases Amazon makes a donation to your chosen charity and doesn't cost you a single penny extra.
If you have the Amazon mobile app, you need to update your settings to ensure your purchases go through Amazon Smile.
Links with local businesses
Many of our local shops and businesses are very generous providing donations for raffle prizes, contributions to refreshments and sponsorship for events. If you run your own business, or work for a firm in the local area that would be willing to help out, please get in touch with any ideas for how you might be able to in the success of our next event.
Charity Status
Charity law requires voluntary organisations such as ours with an annual income in excess of £5,000 to register with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. As a charity we must abide by Charity Commission rules and regulations and we are bound by a governing document referred to as our constitution. Friends of Reepham Primary School is a Registered Charity, number 1052928.
Gift Aid
As a charity, we are able to claim 25p for every pound that is donated to the FRPS by individuals (not companies) who are UK tax payers. This does not apply to money we receive in payment for something like a ticket for a disco or selling refreshments. It could include money raised through a sponsored event such as a run or swim for example. We will always look for ways in which we can make the most of this opportunity and may ask you to fill in a Gift Aid declaration for donations where this applies. There are strict guidelines as to what can be claimed and further information can be found on the HMRC website.
