Children Supporting Children.
Philanthropy is at the heart of the Dragon Charity Sale. Each year a key focus for young Dragons throughout the school is how they can contribute in order to raise funds to support children in need locally, nationally and internationally.
As part of the Dragon Charity Sale, Dragons get involved by designing and creating stalls to raise funds. At the end of Christmas Term their fundraising ideas are put to the test in a marketplace at the Dragon school, competing with all of the other stalls, each vying to drum up the most trade and raise the most funds for charity. This makes for an electric and heart warming atmosphere where hundreds of stalls, containing games, crafts and homemade goods, come together to support those in need.
There are Dragon Philanthropy certificates for those children who run a stall for 5 years, for each year of their time at the Prep.
The most important part of the Dragon Sale is what happens afterwards. Each child throughout the school plays an integral role in deciding which charities will benefit from the proceeds. Throughout this process, our Dragons are able to learn about the importance of philanthropy in society and the impact it can have on those in need.
Each year, the net proceeds of the Sale are distributed across four main channels. Much of this philanthropic process is led by Dragon school children, as it is really important that the children are engaged and involved throughout so that they see how and where the funds raised through their hard work and efforts at the Dragon Sale go.
Last year the 2024 Dragon Sale supported 74 different charities, including 18 through the Dragon Form Vote, nearly 50 presentations by pupils from both the pre-Prep and Prep schools, and staff nominations.
Charities chosen by Dragon Forms
Each year every class in the Dragon from Reception to A Block has a set of three charities to vote for. A short presentation on each charity is delivered by each Form Taker and children vote for the charity they would like to support through the Dragon Sale. Charities are tailored to the ages of the children in different year groups and the results of the Form Votes determine the amount of Dragon Sale funds allocated to each charity.
Pupil Charity Presentations
This is the opportunity for individual pupils to present a charity that they would like to support personally. Every pupil in the school can suggest a charity to receive some funds from the Dragon Sale through a form that is sent out via the Dragon News. Pupils then are allocated time for a short presentation to the Disbursements Committee in conjunction with members of Dragon School staff. Encouraging young philanthropists is a really important part of the Sale and every charity which is put forward by a pupil will receive some funding.
Staff Charity Vote
Staff members are able to nominate a charity which is close to their heart to receive funds from the Dragon Sale.
Dragon School Bursary support
The Sale also supports children at the Dragon School through giving back to the Dragon School Bursary Fund.
The Dragon Sale does not accept direct requests from charities.
*Please see our Beneficiaries page for a list of charities supported by funds from the Sale last year.