Share:
9 June 2023
Portsmouth High School, GDST’s, Head Girl team were delighted to officially announce that they are supporting a local charity, Stop Domestic Abuse, as their Sixth Form charity for the next academic year.
Mrs Claire Lambon, CEO of the charity, and an alumna of Portsmouth High School, said in a school assembly:
‘We are delighted to have been chosen as the Head Girl team’s charity and we look forward to raising awareness and funds to support the work we do.’
Stop Domestic Abuse supports and protects victims and survivors of domestic abuse and provides a range of flexible and accessible services across Hampshire. The charity also helps perpetrators, the police and other agencies.
In 1977 a group of local people saw a need in Havant for a refuge for women and children. They established Havant Women’s Aid which later became Southern Domestic Abuse Service.
In 1978 the first refuge opened. At first the refuge was run entirely on a voluntary basis with the help of an annual grant from Hampshire County Council. In 2018 it re-branded to the new name, Stop Domestic Abuse and last year celebrated 45 years since forming.
‘We have one clear vision: a world without domestic abuse,’ Claire told the pupils. ‘We work to ensure that domestic abuse is ‘everyone’s business’, that victims are supported to recover and perpetrators are supported to change their behaviour.’
The Head Girl team will spearhead fundraising activities throughout the year to generate money and raise awareness of the charity.
Larry, 17, Deputy Head Girl responsible for charities said, ‘The Head Girl Team believe that domestic abuse is such an important topic that needs to be spoken about more with young people. We’re so excited to start our fundraising for Stop Domestic Abuse and can’t wait for our first chance to raise money at our Sports Day next week.’
Portsmouth High School’s Charity Week will take place in November. It has been running for over 30 years and is always organised entirely by the Sixth Form. The week is made up of talent shows, live music events, an annual netball match versus boys from Portsmouth Grammar School and other events. It culminates in a two night Fashion Show where the Sixth Form use business acumen and entrepreneurial skills to negotiate with local shops and liaise with local businesses to put on a spectacular show.
