Our GIFT (Growing in Faith Together) Team plays a vital role in nurturing the prayer life of our school community. This group of Y5 and Y6 pupils serve as spiritual leaders and role models to the other children.

At the beginning of the Autumn term, the Y6 chaplains interview all Y5 applicants, before selecting new members of the team. Each child serves for two years. The GIFT Team meets on a fortnightly basis, supported by Mrs Messham, planning activities which will deepen the prayer lives of their peers.

Here are some of the projects and activities which the GIFT Team leads:

• Leading Prayer and Worship: Help plan, prepare, and lead whole school mass, prayer services, assemblies, and other acts of collective worship.
• Enhancing Sacred Spaces: Help create and maintain prayer areas, liturgical displays, and other sacred spaces within the school environment.
• Retreat Days: Attend retreat days and bring back idea to inspire prayer, worship and spiritual growth in the school community.
• Being Faith Witnesses: Act as visible role models of faith for their peers, demonstrating Gospel values through their words and actions.

Please see our GIFT Team Action Plan here.

Our Caritas Ambassadors work together to support the most vulnerable in our local area; our Diocese and at a global level. At the end of the Summer term, the team receives training from Caritas Salford, on aspects of Catholic Social Teaching, before they take up their role at the beginning of Y5. The Ambassadors serve for two years and meet fortnightly to discuss and organise projects for the coming year. Their work embodies the spirit of St. Teresa of Calcutta, who said: “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”

The roles of our Caritas Ambassadors  are:

• Living out Charity: Promote the Catholic value of Caritas (love in action) and solidarity throughout the school community.
• Raising Social Awareness: Educate peers about issues of poverty, injustice, and human dignity locally and globally, inspired by Catholic Social Teaching.
• Organising Charitable Actions: Lead and coordinate fundraising events or collections for charities supported by the school (e.g., CAFOD, local food banks, mission appeals).
• Encouraging Service: Inspire acts of kindness, service, and compassion within the school and the wider community, putting faith into practical action.

Please see our Caritas Ambassadors Action Plan here.

The Laudato Si’ team focuses on environmental stewardship and caring for our common home, inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical. The group meets each week after school to plan activities which promote sustainability; waster reduction and the education of their peers about the importance of looking after God’s wonderful world.

The roles of our Laudato Si’ Ambassadors are:

• Sharing Pope Francis Message: Raise awareness among peers about the key messages of Laudato Si’ concerning care for our common home.
• Leading Environmental Action: Initiate and lead practical projects to make the school more sustainable (e.g., recycling schemes, waste reduction, energy saving, school gardening).
• Educating for Stewardship: Teach fellow students about environmental issues (like biodiversity loss, pollution, climate change) from the perspective of Catholic teaching on stewardship of creation

Our St Ethelbert’s Choir is a vibrant pupil leadership group that inspires others through teamwork, confidence, and the joy of music.

The roles of the choir are:

• Enhancing Celebrations: Perform hymns and sacred music at school assemblies and special events, contributing to a prayerful and joyful atmosphere.
• Leading Worship: Guide the school community in singing during Masses, liturgies, and collective worship.
• Community Outreach through Song: Share the joy of their music and the message of faith by performing in the local community.

At St Ethelbert’s, our Playground Leaders are a proud pupil leadership group who promote friendship, teamwork, and kindness across our school.

The roles of the Playground Leaders are:

• Fostering Inclusion: Initiate and lead games and activities during break times, ensuring all children feel welcome and included.
• Modelling Positive Behaviour: Be role models for respectful interaction, cooperation, and friendship on the playground.
• Communicating Concerns: Liaise with staff on duty, reporting any issues or concerns to ensure pupil well-being.
• Ensuring a Happy Environment: Help create a safe, positive, and caring atmosphere where everyone can enjoy their break times.

At St Ethelbert’s, our Internet Safety Champions are a dedicated pupil leadership group who help keep our school community safe online through awareness, guidance, and teamwork.

The roles of our Internet Safety Champions are:

• Promoting Safe Practices: Educate peers about how to use the internet and digital devices safely and responsibly.
• Sharing Key Messages: Help deliver important online safety information during assemblies, class talks or through creating posters.
• Being Digital Role Models: Demonstrating positive and respectful online behaviour, showing kindness and consideration in online interactions.
• Raising Awareness of Risks: Help peers Recognise potential online dangers and know how to seek help from trusted adults.

At St Ethelbert’s, our Mental Health Ambassadors are a caring pupil leadership group who promote wellbeing, kindness, and support for everyone in our school.

The roles of the Mental Health Ambassadors are:

• Wellbeing Role Models: Show kindness, patience and respect to others.
• Listening Friends: Be someone pupils can talk to if they feel sad or worried.
• Positive Promoters: Share ideas for feeling calm, happy and confident with pupils in school.
• Positive Messengers: Support in delivering wellbeing messages throughout the school.
• Event Organisers: Help to plan activities for Mental Health Awareness Week or special wellbeing days.