FOP - Friends of Poplar

At Poplar Farm School, we are fortunate to have a Friends of Association that is and has been an integral part of the school community. Created in 2019, in this time FOP has raised thousands of pounds, which has been spent on equipment, resources, fun activities and events to enhance our children’s education experience and the school’s facilities. 

Our Friends of Association is about much more than simply fundraising. FOP exists to provide closer links between home and school, and it is an excellent way to bring staff, parents and friends together socially in support of the school, working towards a common goal. It is fun too - just ask any of the Committee members, volunteers, members and helpers. 

FOP is open to everyone with an association with our school - parents, teachers, friends, guardians, carers, grandparents, governors etc. It is an important part of school life. We work on a volunteer basis, giving up our time to help to benefit our children. We are a small but very active and enthusiastic group of mums, dads, teachers and friends who meet each half term to support the school and our children. 

The group is quite small and friendly and always welcomes new members. It gives an opportunity to meet other parents and have a ‘say’ into how the money raised is spent. It also allows parents an opportunity to have a say about what events we should organise in the future. 

We hold regular meetings to plan our events for the year and hold our annual AGM at the start of each academic year, watch out via Class Dojo, My Child at School, our Facebook page and the school notice boards/ newsletters for information about our events and meetings. 

What do we do?

Friends of Poplar Farm School has two main roles: 

Fundraising: we raise money to buy additional resources and equipment needed by the school. All the monies raised are used to provide our children with these extras. To date, our children have benefited from fundraising by FOP by supplying cash injections to the outdoor classroom and book vending machine project. These extras make such a difference to our school. 

Fun Activities & Events: we organise events for our children outside the school curriculum, e.g., Easter Egg Hunts and Sponsored Bunny Hops, Halloween Pumpkin Parade, Summer Fayre, Christmas Fayre/ Market, Discos, Magic Shows, End of year treats/ice creams, Colour runs and much more. The main purpose of these events is to provide pleasure to all. 

Every year as the festive season approaches children are given the opportunity to design their own artwork, which are printed as high-quality cards (Christmas and non-religious options) to buy and give to friends and relatives. 

We always try and respond to the children’s requests and encourage their ideas and involvement; it is great to see them contributing to/ having fun at the events or enjoying using a piece of new equipment that FOP has contributed to. 

We operate in line with Parentkind’s constitution, which we are also a member of. This states the purpose of the association, and rules and regulations that the committee members should be following. It also provides structure for committee members, giving clear guidance on how the association should be run.  

We also became a registered charity in 2024, which allows us to pursue tax relief on donations and more opportunities around funding streams. It also means that our committee are also trustees, which means they have independent control over, and legal responsibility for, a charity’s management and administration. They play a very important unpaid role, in a sector that contributes significantly to the character and wellbeing of the country. 

What are our goals for this academic year?

Our goals for the 2024/25 academic year are: 

Who are the current committee?

Each year we elect our committee and trustees for the academic year, and anyone with a connection to the school can express their interest in standing for a role by contacting us - without your help we wouldn’t be able to achieve so much. 

Our current committee and trustees are: 

Chair - Gemma Bryant 

Treasurer - Areti Sakellariou 

Secretary - Kelly Blake 

Ordinary Committee Member - Tina Evans 

We also have a wonderful group of volunteers and active members, who support the above by contributing their time, enthusiasm, and skills to our cause.  

So how can you support us right now?

Friends of Poplar Farm School relies on volunteers and contributors to have a fun, successful year of events and fundraising for our school. 

Please take some time to consider if you could contribute your money, time, talent or support and please do get in touch! It can be little or a lot, but all contributions are very much appreciated! 

Ways you can support are: 

o   Account Name: Friends of Poplar Farm School 

o   Account number: 74489368 

o   Sort code: 30-99-50 

Want to know more or get involved?

Follow our Facebook page - www.facebook.com/FriendsofPoplarFarmSchool , send an email to FOP@poplarfarmsch-cit.co.uk or please leave a message at the school office, we can’t wait to hear from you! 

Supporting our school, building our community – join Friends of Poplar Farm School and make a difference today!