Every year a student (or students) are selected to receive the Epsom College Service Award, with the winner picked from a shortlist following feedback from various placements.
The Service award this year was shared by Sam Kirby and Daniel Robertshaw for their work across two years: befriending and gardening for Diana Beck, through the Banstead Horticultural Society.
Diana shared how the pupils had been of great help to her: “Sam and Dan have been outstanding this year. I cannot distinguish between them as they both brought something special to the partnership.
They cheerfully, flexibly, and quickly adapted to a range of tasks – from physical effort, e.g. emptying and distributing compost, to creative construction. Together they constructed the temporary winter brick and glass shelter (Sam’s design) for succulents – an annual Epsom College activity- and the best ever: neat purposeful and fun with frowns of concentration in progress. Sam also constructed a complicated self-built trolley.
While Dan and I laughed over some ‘willful’ springy shelving units. Dan, using his knowledge to swiftly build a second on his own. We planted tubs with care, pruned and tied in roses accurately, potted up and shifted many propagated plants and all sorts of general gardening tidying jobs.
Apart from the practical achievements of this pair, they were a joy to spend time with. We were able to share all sorts of thoughts and conversations, providing a terrific boost to the week. Friendly and kind, just like they were family, but always respectful, willing and alert. Particularly valuable to me as I live alone and have no family nearby.
I’d like to put them forward for your special award. They are a credit to the School and to the service ethics to which you all aspire. I feel very fortunate to have shared time with them and to have such happy memories now that their service is finished.”
Epsom’s Service Programme
We are incredibly proud of our Service Programme, which embeds a commitment to the local community into the pupils’ timetables. The Programme donates time, not money, and since its establishment in 2013, Epsom’s pupils have volunteered over 29,000 hours, equating to over £300,000 in social value.
“We want our pupils to understand the real value of providing service to the community and come to appreciate that they can make a positive difference to society, however small. We hope that their experience will inspire then to continue to reach out and keep making these small differences in their local communities and further afield once they have left the College”, Roshie Watkins, Community & Volunteering Manager.
