College News

QE students INTERACT with the community

Students at QE celebrated in style with members of the Darlington Rotary Club at the College’s inaugural Interact Club’s Charter Dinner.

The Interact Club is the version of the Rotary Club for younger people, and QE’s students have been delighted to be a part of the organization in order to raise money for good causes and to be involved in community projects. The Charter Dinner was held to celebrate the formation of the club and to present Charlotte Ferguson, President of the QESFC Interact Club, with the Chain of Arms and the Charter.  Charlotte commented:

“I am delighted to have been involved with establishing QESFC Interact Club because it strengthens the link between QE students and the community and gives us the ability to raise money for local charities.”

The event was extremely successful with 80 guests in attendance including QE students, parents, staff, governors and Rotarians. Chris Wiper, President of the Darlington Rotary Club awarded Charlotte with the Chain of Office. Len Burns, Deputy District Governor for the Rotary presented Charlotte with the Charter and the QESFC Interact Club members with Interact badges.

Charlotte added “I thoroughly enjoyed the evening as it was great to network with the Rotarians and hear first-hand all the amazing community work they get involved with. It was very inspirational and I intend to keep working with the Rotary Club at University.”

QESFC Interact Club members include – Charlotte Ferguson, Nathan Johnson-Small, Ellan Day, Beth MacNamara, Bradley Eglington, Bella Dirahu, Ellie Holmes, Sanjida Basit, Kate Hardy, Joseph Hall, Ebony Chaplin, Philip Colebrooke, Samantha Ashcroft, Josh McColgan, Hannah Trethway, Sarah Currie and Catherine Wiseman.

The evening began with welcome drinks and canapés and a photography exhibition where guests could enjoy the work of QE students. This was followed by a two course meal, raffle, speeches and live performances from the College’s music students who played a variety of instruments: Omar Shade, Rachel Todd, Lucy Lei, Fiona Todd, Naomi Hastings, Flea Pybus, Frances Ashdown and singer Robyn McKellar.

The QESFC Interact Club celebrated their achievements by creating a fantastic presentation documenting local and international charity projects and events they had carried out throughout the year ranging from sending shoeboxes packed with gifts to children in Romania to organizing events for local elderly people and contributing to Darlington’s foodbank.

Vicky Snowball, QE’s Interact Club Coordinator, said “It has been a pleasure working with the Darlington Rotary Club to set up QESFC Interact Club; in particular, Roly Lang and Chris Wiper who have been a great support and are exemplary ambassadors of the Club, thank you.”

Roly Lang, from the Darlington Rotary Club, concluded “Nearly every Rotarian came up to me at our next meeting and said how much they enjoyed the Charter evening, talking about the entertainment and the talent at the College.”

Students at QE are looking forward to being involved in further projects and even greater collaboration with the Rotary Club.