Oscar's Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity
Work in schools
"I honestly don't know -hand on heart - how we would have coped without OSCAR's over these past few months.
How we help
Schools are important to us
Schools are so important to us – both in how we can help them and in the fundraising they do for us.
We offer assemblies, workshops and awareness-raising about OSCAR’s, helping others and brain tumours, as well as support and advice for children, parents and staff. We adapt what we provide based on the needs of the school using the educational expertise amongst our staff.
Support and Advice
As school staff you can reach out to us knowing that our staff have lived experience of working with children affected by brain tumours in a school environment. We know how it feels to be in your shoes and we want to use what we have learned to do the best for the staff, children and families at your school when one of your pupils receives a diagnosis of a brain tumour.
We provide staff meetings, advice on action plans, we work alongside other professionals to consider specific needs of children, we can talk to children about what to expect – and we can be there for schools at the toughest times as well.
We also work with families to ensure schools are providing the best for children affected by brain tumours, and their siblings, looking at how to have a strong two-way relationship, policies and procedures, additional needs, and sibling support.
Assemblies and Workshops
We have been into numerous schools to talk about what a charity is for. We think it is really important that children consider others who are less fortunate than themselves and talking about the work OSCAR’s does within schools has shown how caring and giving children are.
Our assemblies and workshops are planned and delivered by ex-teaching staff who cater to the needs and sensitivities of each school. We have presented to the youngest and oldest children on a range of topics related to our work in a friendly and engaging manner. We are happy to tailor what we deliver to the needs of your curriculum.
Our Work In Schools:
Raising Awareness
As well as raising awareness of what the charity does and why, we like to make sure that parents and carers are informed about the signs and symptoms of brain tumours. Our leaflets are available online for schools to send to parents. 72% of adults do not know the signs and symptoms of a brain tumour. Our mission is to help them spot when there may be a problem. More than a quarter of children wait for over a year before diagnosis. This can be because so many of the signs and symptoms can be diagnosed as something less serious. Being informed means parents are empowered when they are talking to medical professionals.
Fundraising
Children helping children is a key part of how our charity operates. When Oscar was undergoing treatment, he fundraised for charities. His drive is what inspired us to set up the charity in his name – and we see that same drive from the children in schools we work with. They are shocked by the statistics and want to do their part to change them for the better.
Schools have put on ‘Go Orange For OSCAR’s’ days, bake sales, penalty shoot-outs, gunge the teacher, car washes, orange and spoon races, dance classes, design competitions and lots more. Our staff have lots of experience of running events inside schools and are always on hand to advise – as well as join in the fun!
We have the capacity to create lesson plans that help the children fundraise while addressing national curriculum areas, so be sure to ask about that when you are considering being involved.
On top of all of that we encourage children (and staff) to join us on our events, such as the Inflatable 5k and May Day Big Walks.
