Page 31 - The Badger - Issue 8

THE BADGER Celebrating 125 Years of The Downs
Friends of The Downs
At February’s AGM, we shared our Annual report alongside the Financial update and updates on the
Enrichment projects funded by the Friends.
It is fantastic to see that our new basketball hoops, mobile cricket nets, Pin-Hole Camera equipment for Hobbies and the LEGO coding sets are fully in use.
We are very happy to share that we were able to cover the costs of the coach transfer to support the 40 children in the Senior Production to see the Matilda Musical, in London, ahead of their own fantastic performance in March.
At the AGM, we said farewell to a number of committee members from our Year 8 cohort and elected a brand- new committee. We would like to bring more new perspectives to the committee; therefore a few general member roles are open, and all parents (and grandparents) who are curious about the Friends or interested to join are most welcome to join our next meeting in September.
As for the TDM events, The Friends have provided a bar for this year’s Senior and Junior productions, as well as the Macmillan Charity Concert and Summer Concert.
We were very fortunate with the glorious weather for this year’s Summer Celebration, our main fundraising event of the year. We were entertained by live music, activities from Team Super Sports, pony rides, Matrons’ Jam Jars and inflatables, amongst other things! Our fabulous bar was on hand to help us cool down with refreshing drinks and appetites were satisfied by pizzas, burgers, slushies, popcorn, strawberries, sweets, and ice-cream. The Summer Celebration brought together around 250 people, including TDM families and friends, new families who are joining this September and TDM staff and Governors. A heartfelt thank you to all for your support as we couldn’t have done this without you. We would also like to share our special gratitude to the TDM front office team and the grounds team for all they have done behind the scenes.
We are pleased to share that during the first six months of the year, the Friends of the Downs have invested in high-quality oak benches and picnic tables for Main Games and the Boarders’ Lawn, new cross- country bibs, and purchased copies of Dame Floella Benjamin’s books, “Coming to England” following a virtual author visit.
We are in a good position to consider more impactful investments to enhance our children’s learning experience in the coming 2 years and beyond. And we are working this summer to collect and review the ideas. There is so much to look forward to over the next six months too. Thank you all again for your wonderful contributions and generosity.
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