COMMUNITY LINKS

Community Links Vision

At Villa Real we define community as the local people around the school, communities represented by all sorts of groups that exist between neighbourhoods e.g. sports clubs and specialist communities that support pupils with Special Needs. The transformative power of school- community relationships is plain to see through strong, authentic community connections and actions. As a school we feel it is very important to have links to promote wellbeing and mental health. We need a sense of belonging, and that sense of belonging is what connects us to the many relationships we develop.

Community Links Aims

Sharing an understanding of communities and why they matter
Enabling school and communities to share information about what is going on locally
Enabling school and communities to have shared access to training
Enabling school to enhance the education we provide
Enabling the school and communities to learn from each other through sharing people’s expertise
Enabling opportunities for lifelong learning
To develop professional generosity and risk benefits

As part of DAAC some pupils got the opportunity to work alongside Glen and Terry from Shildon Town Council. They explained their role as a gardener and what is involved to look after the parks. The pupils then became gardeners for the day planting flowers in the boulders ready for Summer. They learnt how to look after the flowers and learnt how to keep the park tidy.

At our school, we believe in supporting our community, especially those who may be facing difficult times. During the Harvest Festival, we collect food donations to give back to our local food bank as a way of showing kindness, gratitude, and responsibility. It’s a chance for students to learn about helping others and making a positive difference. Every tin, packet, or box donated helps families in need, and reminds us that even small acts of generosity can have a big impact.

Recently, pupils in Classes Ash and Rowan have been busy taking part in a range of community engagement activities. They’ve enjoyed visiting places such as the doctor’s surgery and the police station, and have made a positive difference in the community by litter picking and delivering donations to the local food bank.