Who are friends of pionner?
Our Goal.
Friends of Pioneer (FOP) is a registered charity dedicated to fostering collaboration between parents, teachers, and the school to enhance student learning and school activities. We typically organise events, fundraising efforts, and volunteer initiatives to support the school's educational programs, including donating materials and equipment to create a positive environment for students.
Our History
Founded in 2014, FOP was created by a group of like minded Parents to find ways of supporting Tilbury Pioneer Academy (TPA) and help nurture and develop the experience of daily school life. Over the years FOP has had several different faces taking on several roles but with each new face that joins the team, one thing remains - our commitment to the kids of TPA.
About FOP - A note from our Chair, Jamie.
The Friends of Pioneer are a group of like-minded parents and staff that formed in September 2014, replacing the then PTA (Parent and Teachers Association). Our current committee is a relatively new, but solid line-up and our aim is to work alongside Tilbury Pioneer Academy to support our children's learning journey and make it as safe, happy, positive and interesting as we can.
Our mission is to advance the education of pupils in the school by developing effective relationships between the staff, parents and others associated with the school and provide facilities, equipment or activities that support the school.
FOP host annual after school discos for the children at Easter and Halloween, we support the school fete, we provide bookbags for our new Reception children every year as well as gifting every pupil a treat at Easter and Christmas (with help from the Easter bunny and Father Christmas!) We also volunteer our time to help with some of the additional after school events such as the summer eco festival and the Christmas market. We would like to expand our range of after school activities; all suggestions are welcome!
Additionally, we also volunteer our time to take on the less glamourous but much needed projects around the school such as our recent renovations of the foosball tables. We also like to get involved in the odd external charity event and regularly host our own MacMillan coffee morning.
One of our biggest objectives going forward is to build more successful relationships with local and national Companies and for them to become our 'Community Partners' to assist us taking our fundraising efforts to new heights. We already have a very positive relationship with The Griffin group who generously sponsor our fundraising events and have previously given us grants to provide prizes to competition winners, like our recent ‘Wonka-Bar, Find a golden ticket’ event! We have also been supported by the Port of Tilbury and the local Asda community champion.
All our fundraising efforts and time put into events and projects around the school need one thing - in short, we need you! We always need volunteers to make our events and projects as successful as possible; you don't even need to attend the meetings.
Every parent has something that they can contribute - time, ideas, a particular set of skills - even contacts that may be able to help us. If you are willing to help out at any event or have any other ideas then please email FOP; fop@theglc.org.uk. We never take anyone's participation for granted; every little bit helps us all and ensures that we can continue funding projects to benefit all of our children.
We look forward to hearing from you with any and all suggestions we can add to our children’s school journey.
Kindest Regards,
Jamie
FOP Chair