From pizza ovens to cemetery restoration: Third annual community day sees record student participation

Bags of enthusiasm... students took part in a mix of activities across 10 sites

Year 12 students at Colfe’s School once again demonstrated outstanding commitment to civic engagement, collectively contributing over 450 hours of service across the London Borough of Lewisham during the third annual Colfe’s Brun Bear Foundation Community Day. This initiative is part of a long running partnership between the school and The Brun Bear Foundation, which also sees the charity provide valuable work experience and mentoring to Colfe’s students.

For the 2025 Community Day, a record 80 Year 12 students, aged 16-17, were deployed across ten community organisations, undertaking ten different types of community service projects from conservation and construction to educational support and administrative duties. Participants largely chose their placements, selecting based on interests like gardening or a desire for practical experience.

Environmental and conservation initiatives

At Sydenham Garden's De Frene Market Garden site, which supports individuals with mental health issues, volunteers were deeply involved in constructing a new pizza oven. This complex task required levelling sand for the plinth and meticulously mixing sand and clay in a specific ratio of four parts sand to one part clay for the oven itself. The completed oven is designed to feed an estimated 500 guests at a local festival on August 16th.

Laying the foundation: Like a great pizza, building an oven for 500 starts with good prep

Student Izzy, described the placement as "quite a revelation." Another student, Saskia, found it "rewarding to give my time to the project," while Ellie highlighted the benefits for "team-building skills and socialising." Joshua was pleased to contribute to a "good cause that supports mental health".

Elsewhere in the borough, participants volunteered at Wild Cat Wilderness, a 6.5-acre community green space in Catford. They tackled a range of challenging conservation tasks, including clearing dense vegetation, removing ivy from plum trees, collecting and disposing of rubbish off-site, clearing pathways near the allotments, and constructing a new fence using natural materials. The physically demanding work was described by volunteers as “hard,” but valuable, with many reflecting on the importance and reality of hands-on effort in community projects.

Before and after... students worked diligently to to help preserve the cemetery’s heritage

At Nunhead Cemetery, volunteers focused on essential tasks such as clearing graves, cutting back overgrown brambles, and removing ivy to reveal historic monuments. Brambles are particularly challenging due to their rapid growth and potential to damage roots. The goal of this work is to make more of the cemetery’s 280,000 monuments — some dating back to 1841 — visible for appreciation and to enhance the experience for recreational visitors at this 52-acre historic estate. Site supervisors were impressed by the significant difference a group of 13 motivated young people made to their ongoing maintenance efforts.

Other students were drawn to the opportunity to engage in Riverside Conservation at Ladywell Fields. Here the volunteers dug out nettles and thistles from vegetation cells to enhance biodiversity. They also planted plug plants for various pollinators and cleared weeds from paths to improve accessibility and enjoyment of the park. All green waste from their efforts is recycled for use in other flower beds across the park.

Students said participation brought personal satisfaction, personal development and civic pride

One participant shared their motivation: "I didn't know about this sort of initiative specifically, but I knew about this place. I've been here before and I am pleased to help out because it's a lovely place and I think everyone deserves to experience it to its full potential." This volunteer also noted gaining "good experience and satisfaction on a personal level."

Another student reflected that participating in the programme “shows there’s more to me as a student than just going to Colfe’s.” Another found it offered “a release of stress from GCIEs” — the Goldsmiths Colfe’s Interim Examinations, an internal qualification developed in partnership with Goldsmiths, University of London, which students take at the end of Year 12 as a replacement for traditional AS levels.

Conservation was also in evidence at Beckenham Place Park where volunteers contributed to weeding and conservation efforts. In past years, this has spanned working in the River Ravensbourne to look for invasive species, litter picking and retrieving plastic waste.

Educational and community support initiatives

For those drawn to educational initiatives, Rushey Green Primary School saw volunteers at this large primary school in Catford, undertake a range of support tasks. Headteacher Lisa Williams praised the volunteers as "polite, enthusiastic, amenable and genuinely hardworking," stating their help was "hugely beneficial" to the school community. Students also provided valuable in-class educational support at St Winifred's Primary School.

At St Mary's Church volunteers participated in gardening tasks in the therapeutic garden. The garden serves as a communal space for the public and patients, functioning as a haven for wildlife while cultivating a wildflower meadow.

Participants also assisted at Deptford's 5 Steps Nursery by completing tasks to improve the courtyard's appearance. Their work included painting chair legs, weeding, tying curtain strips on gates to block dust and general litter picking that left the nursery exterior significantly tidier. Student Oyin said: "The staff highly appreciated our work, and were pleased with our ideas, particularly the developing of new art for their walls near the garden."

Creative types put their talents to good use at Signal Family Support, which serves families with autistic children and young adults. Here the Colfe's students were involved in designing flyers, posters, and leaflets to promote upcoming events like teen groups and financial workshops. They also supported administrative duties, including stamping and preparing letters for postage.

Students applied their creativity to leaflets advertising vital support services in the community

Reflecting on the experience, one student volunteer shared, “I gained confidence, improved my creative and teamwork skills, and developed a better understanding of community support work. It has inspired me to continue volunteering when I can, knowing the difference it makes.”

Impact and Future Outlook

Now in its third year, Community Day continues to provide an invaluable learning experience for participants. The event offers students the chance to contribute directly to their local community and see the tangible results of their efforts. In addition to benefiting the community, the programme also supports students’ motivation and personal development.

Colfe’s Director of School Partnerships and Head of Religion and Philosophy, Zoe Kendrick, expressed pride in the “industrious and energetic group of students,” emphasising that hands-on participation helps pupils appreciate the importance of community in action. Founder of The Brun Bear Foundation, Edwin Lampert, highlighted the remarkable growth of the programme and affirmed, “The Brun Bear Foundation is committed to continuing its productive partnership with Colfe’s, and especially creating meaningful opportunities for students to thrive and make a positive impact.”

The next Community Day is scheduled to take place Thursday 18 June 2026. If you are a local charity and interested in taking part please email team@brunbearfoundation.com

Local charities are also reminded that The Brun Bear Foundation runs a grant making programme that supports community initiatives in Lewisham and Bromley. To learn more and to apply please click here