Celebrating Our First CLC x St Hilda’s East Weekend

This week marks an exciting milestone in our partnership with St Hilda’s East (SHE), as we celebrate the very first CLC x SHE Weekend – a dedicated weekend of community events and fundraising to support this remarkable charity and the invaluable work it does in East London.

Founded 137 years ago by pioneering women from the CLC community, St Hilda’s East was established in response to the severe poverty experienced in London at the time. Today, it remains a vital centre of support, offering practical help, advice, and community programmes for people of all ages.

Its work spans a wide range of services, including the Brave Girls programme, which supports young women aged 11–18 in building confidence and skills, a specialist sensory room and free crèche for young children, social groups for over 50s, and women-only wellbeing projects focused on mental health. The charity also provides expert legal and practical advice for those facing challenges such as housing insecurity and debt, while new initiatives such as a Cooking Club continue to expand the support available to local residents.

The impact of the charity’s work is both wide-ranging and deeply meaningful. Whether providing a warm social space for older residents, helping young women build confidence, or offering life-changing practical advice to local families, St Hilda’s East remains a trusted hub of support in the community.

To celebrate and support this long-standing partnership, a programme of special events has been planned across the weekend.

Prayers

On Tuesday, we held very special Prayers, dedicated to St Hilda's East. This was organised and held by our SHE Ambassadors. Pausing to recognise the invaluable work of this increadible charity and the positive impact it has on so many lives, while coming together as a community in appreciation and support of this special partnership.

'In Bloom' Art Exhibition

On Friday, pupils in LC3 welcomed members of the St Hilda’s East over-50s group to the Parabola Arts Centre for a collaborative exhibition, In Bloom, inspired by the natural landscapes of Cheltenham and London. The project brought together pupils and visitors in a creative celebration of connection across generations.

CLC-SHE Cup

On Saturday, pupils and staff will take part in a sponsored running challenge to collectively cover 112 miles – the distance from Cheltenham Ladies’ College to St Hilda’s East. During the hour-long event, each House will compete to run the furthest distance, with the winning House receiving the SHE–CLC Cup. Girls will not only run but will also have some fun challenges to do while running.

Second Hand Uniform Sale

Alongside the run, a second-hand uniform sale will take place at St Hilda’s House in the afternoon, with all proceeds donated to the charity. Huge thanks to St Hilda's House for sorting, organising and selling uniforms.

London Marathon

The weekend will conclude on Sunday with the London Marathon, where our Head of College, Mrs Edney, will be running to raise funds for St Hilda’s East. After months of dedicated training, she will be supported on the day by members of both the CLC and St Hilda’s East communities.

Thanks to the generosity of pupils, families, and staff, fundraising has already exceeded £2,200, and we hope this will continue to grow over the weekend. There is still time to donate. If you would like to make a donation to support Mrs Edney and the girls, you can do so by clicking the link below.

This inaugural St Hilda’s East Weekend is a wonderful reflection of the values at the heart of our school community – service, compassion, and meaningful action. It is also a powerful reminder of the legacy of the CLC alumnae who founded St Hilda’s East over a century ago, women who saw a need, took action, and created lasting change.

We are proud to continue supporting that legacy today and thank all families for their generous encouragement and support.

Mrs Laura Isaac,
Social Action Mentor