Kindness in action: Vernon Terrace Primary supports The Lewis Foundation
Pupils at Vernon Terrace Primary School in Northampton have been supporting local cancer charity The Lewis Foundation through a pupil-led campaign focused on kindness, community and giving back.
As part of their learning, a year 1 class worked closely with The Lewis Foundation to understand how the charity supports adults undergoing cancer treatment in hospital. Inspired by what they learned, the pupils launched their own initiative to help, collecting a variety of donated items to be included in The Lewis Foundation’s gift packs. As well, the children created handmade bookmarks, paintings and drawings to help bring comfort and joy to patients receiving the packs.
All of the items and crafts will be added to gift packs over the coming weeks and delivered to The Lewis Foundation’s nineteen partner hospitals across the region.
The project was supported by class teacher, Takeese Tucker and included a visit from The Lewis Foundation’s Emily Griffiths, who met the pupils and heard all about their hard work. The collaboration started when the children had been learning about The Lewis Foundation’s co-founder and CEO, Lorraine Lewis, after the school reached out to the charity as part of its Black History Month studies. A copy of Lorraine’s book, Dare to Dream, supported classroom discussion around ambition, resilience and making a positive difference, and the children decided they wanted to do something to help the charity.
Lorraine Lewis said: “This has been such a beautiful initiative, particularly as it’s been led by the children, and it’s incredible to see what they’ve all achieved. Their kindness and creativity will have a real impact on the people receiving our gift packs, and it’s wonderful to see children learning first-hand how small acts can make such a big difference.”
Takeese Tucker, year 1 teacher at Vernon Terrace Primary School, added: “The children were genuinely excited to support The Lewis Foundation and to do something that would help others. They took great pride in collecting items and creating their own works of art for the gift packs, and it’s been extremely rewarding to see their empathy and teamwork grow. We’re already thinking of other ways we can help The Lewis Foundation in 2026.”
The Lewis Foundation provides free gift packs filled with comfort items and essentials to adult cancer patients in hospitals across the Midlands, relying on community fundraising to continue its work. With the help of an army of volunteers and hundreds of supporters, The Lewis Foundation hand-delivers over 2,000 gift packs every month to nineteen hospitals, providing everything from toiletries and radios to comfort items and handwritten messages.
For anyone who would like to help make a difference, whether through fundraising, volunteering or donating, please contact The Lewis Foundation via email [email protected] or visit www.thelewisfoundation.co.uk.