In today’s diverse and modern society, FoBIS are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that values and supports all those who care for and nurture children. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, childminder, or other caregiver, we welcome you as an essential member of our community. Together, we aim to collaborate, support, and create opportunities to enrich the educational experiences and wellbeing of all children.
Who makes up the Friends of ?
FoBIS is managed by an Elected committee.
Your 2024/2025 committee:
CHAIR – Abbie Lewis-Smith
SECRETARY – Kerry Lewis-Smith
VICE CHAIR – Position Vacant
TREASURER – Michelle Howard
Once a year we hold an Annual General Meeting at which these roles are elected and an annual report of our activities are presented.
Latest AGM minutes
Our current achievements
With the amazing support of our parents and community last year (1st September 2023 to 31st August 2024) the committee raised £8,797. Key highlights are:
- Christmas parties £2,400
- School Fete £2,900
- Smarties Challenge £800
- Sunflower Sales £300
- Second hand uniform £200
- Bingo £600
- Bucks Lottery £544
- Ice Lolly Day £470
From these fantastic fundraising achievements we have contributed to new phonics books £7,300 and £8,900 for a pond refurbishment to support the schools outdoor learning programme.
Our aim, our goals and our success
Our sole purpose in being is to raise funds which are then spent on enhancing the pupil’s learning journeys and to support the school and the staff with resources and equipment. We do this by providing a range of activities, events and treats which the children can enjoy as well as fun events for all the family!
In the past year, FoBIS have provided valuable fundraising which has helped to pay toward the cost of school trips, phonics books and new sound equipment.
Getting Involved
WE NEED MORE SUPPORT!
FoBIS simply cannot operate without all those parents, carers and staff who give up their time to plan, organise and help out at events. Nor can it operate without the goodwill of all parents in supporting events and donating items.
We are making a desperate call to all parents to offer forward your skills! If you think that you can spare any time, any skills or even any input, please please do get in touch with FoBIS. We really need you! The committee hold general meetings on a termly basis where everyone is welcome. We also have a WhatsApp Group where you can join to keep up to date with the planning of events.
Whether you wish to be a fully committed member, volunteer an hour or two of your time at an event or if you just want to help out from home, we would love to hear from you.
We have a Facebook page where we share details of events and pledges for your help. Please do join the FoBIS group, like our page and share our posts. You can find us by searching for FoBIS on Facebook or go direct using this link: https://www.facebook.com/BISFriends
Uniformd
Second hand, Pre-loved uniform is available for you to purchase online. Items available are branded items as well as non branded items. You can access the shop via https://app.uniformd.co.uk/schools – just select ‘Bedgrove Infant School’. It is a live catalogue of the items that FoBIS hold. You make payment online for the items you wish to purchase and you collect a couple of days later from the school office. Buying a good quality pre-owned item of uniform not only raises funds for the school but is a more sustainable way to buy uniform!
*This is not to be confused with new branded school uniform which can be purchased from PL Schoolwear.
The Buckinghamshire Lottery
We have a Buckinghamshire Lottery page. It is a great way of supporting FoBIS and you have a 1 in 50 chance of winning a prize too. It is a weekly draw and just £1 per ticket. We receive a 50% donation from all ticket sales.
Winning prizes range from extra tickets for matching 2 numbers up to the top prize of £25,000 if you match all six numbers.
You can purchase tickets by visiting the following link – https://www.buckinghamshirelottery.co.uk/support/friends-of-bedgrove-infant-school
STIKINS Name Labels
STIKINS make labels with your child’s name on to attach to clothing and uniform (very useful!) and the school gets a percentage of any order that you place.
Clicking the banner below will give the school 30% commission of your order. If the school code is not populated for some reason when you checkout, please enter the code 1581 (although populating it manually rather than using our link will reduce the commission to 15% so we’d rather you clicked the banner ?)
Additional ways to raise funds
Easy Fundraising
Easy Fundraising FoBIS is a member of www.easyfundraising.org.uk. This is a website that allows any individual to raise funds by shopping online and by then giving a percentage of your purchase to the school.
Retailers include Baker Ross, Amazon, eBay, M&S, iTunes, Sainsbury’s Groceries, uSwitch, John Lewis, GAME and many more.
When shopping online, you can check on the easyfundraising website whether the retailer is a member and if they are, log in to your account and link through to the retailer’s website buying your goods as you would normally. If you want to make it even easier you can add their Donation Reminder to your browser (https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/donation-reminder) which will automatically pop up a reminder whenever you are on a website where the school can earn commission from your shopping.
They also have a section for voucher codes and special discounts which are on offer.
(You will need to register your details for an account. Then you ‘Find a Cause’ and type in Bedgrove Infant School. Once set up with an account, find your online retailer, click through and shop as normal. The donation from your purchase is made to the FoBIS account within 30 days.)
Contact Us
It’s very easy to get in touch with the “Friends of” team by email, Facebook, or face to face in the playground. We’d love to hear from you. Email: friendsofbedgroveinfant@gmail.com Facebook: @BISFriends
We often update event information on our Facebook page, so please join the page to stay in the know!