If you have been following our Twitter feed or reading our newsletters recently, you will have noticed the large number of charitable initiatives which have taken place at the College this term.

The benefits of giving to others extend far beyond the help given to those on the receiving end.  Of course it is important to help those who are less fortunate, and to help towards the creation of a warmer and kinder society.  However, did you know that helping other people also has proven benefits to the giver?

Save the Children (who we will be fundraising for during our upcoming Christmas Jumper Day) have written a very interesting article on the “Helpers High”.  They explain how helping others leads to a sense of wellbeing and this has a positive effect on the brain, with effects being similar to activities people usually associate with joy and happiness such as eating, or giving someone a hug.  The chemicals produced can lead to stronger mental health.  Some studies also show that unselfishness is a personality trait that is linked with increased life expectancy.

We can see this effect in the College.  This can be a stressful time of year, with mock exams looming as well as the pressure of UCAS applications and university interviews for those of our students who are in Year 13.  It is great to see the genuine excitement of our students when they hear of new charitable activities, for example the launch of our football league competition in aid of Africa on the Ball and our collection of messages for Crisis, both of which you can read further details of in our newsletter.  Being involved in both the generation of ideas and the follow-through provides a way for the students to take time away from their own concerns and focus on others.  In addition, since so many of our charitable projects are student-run, they are developing their leadership and organisational skills too.  

One thing that people in every culture and country can agree on is the importance of helping those who are less fortunate.  Part of what makes us human is seeing ourselves as part of a community, whether on a local, national or global scale and the feeling of wanting to reach out to the vulnerable in this community.  And how wonderful it is that giving to others actually helps build the mental health and skillset of the young people in our care.

If you would like to read more about the benefits of giving, I would recommended reading this Save the Children article here.