2nd day at Hastings School

This morning was spent back at Hastings School. I was surprised when we first arrived as there were only 15 children waiting for us but they gradually started appearing as they were rounded up from the nearby streets. Eventually there were about 50 children, the youngest of whom was only 2 years old.

After some language games we acted out the story of Goldilocks and the children learnt the song we had practised at school. They loved watching the video of the South Darley children singing and they kept trying to wave to you as they thought you were watching. We recorded them singing the song too and I look forward to showing you it. I then gave the children the South Darley tea towel with all your faces drawn on and the children used T-shirts and pens to draw their own designs to send back to you. When we left the children posed with us for a photo. Alex and Ellie, Derby University students, were with me and they are staying for a month so may visit Hastings again. In the picture above Alex is holding a little girl. When she asked the teacher she found out that the girl doesn’t have any parents and just wanders the streets spending time with whoever will give her attention. I shudder to think of what her future may be. Hastings School is the only structure she has in her life and it is essential that it can develop and grow to meet the many needs of the children.