Shireland Collegiate Academy combined cultural celebration with community action earlier this year, raising more than half a tonne of food for Smethwick Foodbank during its annual Culture Day; enough to support families for up to three weeks.
The event brought together students and staff to celebrate the diversity of the school community through traditional dress, music, dance and cultural displays. Students also led a series of enterprise stalls, selling handmade goods and food inspired by a range of cultural traditions, as part of a wider effort to promote creativity, collaboration and active participation.
A central focus of the day was a fundraising and donation drive in support of Smethwick Foodbank. The school collected 483kg of food and raised more than £500, marking one of the largest single donations the charity has received.
Following the event, students met with Nicky Edwards from the foodbank to learn how their contributions would be used, including how donations are sorted, distributed and directed to people in need.
Smethwick Foodbank provides emergency food parcels designed to last two to three days for individuals and families in urgent need. Alongside this immediate support, it helps connect people to wider services, including advice on financial hardship, housing and wellbeing.
The charity also works in partnership with local faith groups and delivers support packages for new mothers experiencing poverty. It also collaborates with organisations such as Brushstrokes, which supports asylum seekers, refugees and migrants across Sandwell and West Birmingham. At the heart of its work is a commitment to treating and supporting everyone with dignity, care and respect.
School Principal, Thomas Daly, said: “Culture Day reflects the inclusive ethos of our schools and the pride our students take in celebrating their identities and learning about others. It’s an opportunity to recognise and celebrate diversity while also supporting our local community.
“The response to the foodbank appeal has been incredible. The donations will make a meaningful difference to local families and reflects the maturity, empathy and sense of responsibility we expect of our students as they become active members of their community.”
Culture Day remains a key event in the Academy calendar, reinforcing its commitment to inclusion, cultural understanding and active citizenship, while demonstrating the impact young people can have when they come together to support their community.
