Soaked for a Cause: Bulmershe Staff and Students Take On the Ice Bucket Challenge

On Friday 2nd May, staff and Sixth Form students at The Bulmershe School braved buckets of ice-cold water in support of mental health awareness, all in aid of the charity Mind.

The idea began as a light-hearted joke in a Further Maths class, when students encouraged their teacher, Mr Hussain, to take on the classic Ice Bucket Challenge. Mr Hussain agreed - on the condition that he wouldn’t be the only one getting drenched. What followed was a flurry of planning, recruiting and enthusiasm that turned a classroom dare into a fun-filled, interdepartmental event.

Staff volunteers included Mr Hussain, Mr Allen, Dr Harris, Mr Sharland and Miss Nath, who all stepped up to support a cause that is close to the heart of many in our school community. As the buckets were tipped, reactions ranged from calm and composed (we’re looking at you, Mr Allen and Dr Harris) to interpretative dance! The atmosphere was full of laughter and good spirit - especially when Mr Hussain took his revenge by slowly tipping his bucket over unsuspecting Head Student Leilani!

Events like this show the strength of our school community and the positive relationships between staff and students. It also gave us a meaningful opportunity to talk about mental health and show our support for the Mind charity, which does vital work across the UK.

While raising money for a great cause, the event reminded us all that wellbeing is just as important as academic achievement. The sight of teachers and students getting soaked in the name of mental health was not only memorable but heart-warming in every sense (even if the water was freezing!).

We’re proud of our Sixth Form students for organising this event and grateful to the staff who participated with such good humour. And thank you to everyone who donated or came to cheer them on.

To learn more about the work of Mind and how to support mental wellbeing, visit: www.mind.org.uk