Service in the Community | Epsom College
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Epsom College was founded in 1855 by Dr John Propert to provide the orphans of impoverished medical families with free housing, clothing and schooling. The values of benevolence and excellence which guided his work find their modern-day expression in Epsom’s Service programme.

Our work in the community delivers an estimated £40,742 of social value each academic year, according to the Office for National Statistics. Over 200 Sixth Form students (65% of the total cohort) are involved in the programme, with 150 going out each week on placements in the local community. In a single academic year, our students give over 8,500 hours of service to those most in need.

8,500+ hours volunteered each year
£40k+ annual 'social value' generated, according to the ONS
60% of pupils volunteer each week

Meaningful Placements, Community Partnerships

The majority of placements take place between 9am-3pm, and many of those are in local state schools. Other placements include befriending the elderly, tending gardens for the elderly, and working with Epsom and Ewell Foodbank. Musicians from the College perform in care homes, in schools and at various community events.

As well as the work within the local community, the Service Programme also operates in-house with pupils involved in activities such as making Christmas cards and decorations for Maggie’s – a refuge for families of cancer patients situated at the
Royal Marsden Hospital. A number of our Sixth Form students also learnt to knit and crochet head warmers and scarves that were
sold at Maggie’s Christmas Party in order to raise funds for the centre (pictured).

In 2019, the programme was extended to include all our Lower School pupils (Years 7 and 8). They have volunteered at Wallace Fields Infant School to assist with lessons; visited a local care home to entertain the elderly residents; and tended to public gardens in Banstead High Street. This programme – suspended due to the pandemic – is being revived in 2023.

Helping Younger Children to Thrive

A recent project saw Sixth Form volunteers working with younger pupils at local state schools to support their learning and development.

Our students helped pupils at a number of local state primary schools – Banstead Community Junior School, Woodmansterne Primary, The Vale and Wallace Fields Infants School – to reach a higher level of attainment.

During the autumn term, students from Epsom College undertook three weeks of training and were matched with pupils based on their identified strengths. They assisted pupils with language development; built numeracy skills through play; supported reading; led science and craft activities; and helped to develop the children’s social skills.

“By spending time each week with individual children, Epsom's students have developed their language, social and emotional skills - and enhanced their emotional wellbeing”

Nicky Mann, Co-Headteacher, Wallace Fields Infants School

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