Academy supporting Bristol’s homeless this Christmas

Staff and students at Bristol Metropolitan Academy will be turning a much-loved Christmas tradition on its head this year in aid of a charity which supports the city’s homeless.

The Fishponds school will be running a reverse advent calendar this December in aid of the Julian Trust.

How the reverse advent calendar works is a very simple idea. The calendar has the same 24 gift days as a traditional advent calendar, but instead of opening a window and receiving a gift or chocolate, you donate whatever is pictured in that window. This will include items such as clothing, personal hygiene items, food and sleeping bags. At the end of the calendar, all collated items will be delivered to the Julian Trust.

The Julian Trust has been welcoming and accommodating homeless people and rough sleepers in Bristol since 1986. The independent charity, which is entirely run by volunteers, offers people in need a hot meal, a bed for the night and a warm welcome.

Cameron Shaw, Principal of Bristol Metropolitan Academy, said: “We are pleased to be able to support this local charity that supports some of the most vulnerable in our community when they need it. The idea was brought to my attention by Donna Whitcliffe, one of our Heads of Houses, who felt that our students, staff and families would really like to support a charity that operates so close to home.”