Annabelle Roberts – Year 11 

One of the best parts of my job is discovering more about our students, not just their career aspirations but how they manage their time and what their interests are outside of school. What makes them tick?! So it was while Annabelle Roberts was waiting for her careers feedback interview that we discussed how she spends her spare time. It quickly transpired that Annabelle has spent most weekends since she was 8 volunteering for a local foodbank. Annabelle exemplifies the BHS student: committed, considerate and determined to make a difference. I was so impressed that I asked Annabelle to send me more information; here is what she had to say.

Please note that there is a link to the donations page for Annabelle’s foodbank towards the bottom of this article. 

Annabelle: "For the past 7 years I have been actively volunteering at a local foodbank called The Helping Hands Foodbank by AFRIL (Action For Refugees in Lewisham). AFRIL began seven years ago when it partnered with my father’s church, which is where I first heard about it. The foodbank, located in St. Peter’s Church in Greenwich, runs every two weeks on Saturdays 9.00-11:30am. However, I begin at 8:30am, finishing at midday. I assist with handing out food vouchers, distributing food from the café and giving fresh bags to the clients. I have been doing this since I was 8 years old when the foodbank was first established and I went every Saturday; as we now have many more volunteers I can balance my time more between the foodbank and my schoolwork. Initially, we began with a list of approximately 20 clients and now there are approximately 40 clients, with new people joining every week.  

How to donate: 

"As the foodbank is mainly food vouchers, money donations are particularly helpful. You can donate at https://www.afril.org.uk/donate/ . Additionally, oil and washing up liquid are always good to have!  

For me, the foodbank has been a great insight into the reality of the world as I am aware that I have grown up in a rather privileged bubble. Being with the foodbank since it began has been an incredible journey. It's really opened my eyes to the tough situations some people in our community are dealing with. My experiences at AFRIL have taught me so much, and I've seen first-hand how hard life can be. It's made me even more committed to making a positive impact in the lives of those who are less fortunate."