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Interact

Interact is the junior branch of Rotary International, an organisation dedicated to promoting international charitable works.

We are very fortunate at Polam Hall to have the support of the Darlington Rotary Club, our sponsor. They have provided us over the last four years with our mentor, who is currently Reverend Robert Williamson of St Cuthbert's Church in Darlington.

We hold our meetings after school on a bi-weekly basis. These meetings are formal in nature, and give our students an opportunity to develop valuable skills in running meetings and keeping minutes. We plan a wide range of activities, and are expected to organise a minimum of one domestic and one international fund raising event each year. Students have to be aged 14 years and over in order to join, but younger students come along who are 'learning the ropes' before joining formally.

Over the last few years Interact has raised over £5,000, through a wide range of activities including bag packing at Sainsbury's in Darlington. Recently we have raised money for Family Help in Darlington (the former Women's Refuge), collected toiletries and warm clothing for First Stop (a local charity in Darlington supporting the homeless), gathered together over 60 shoe boxes for the Smile International Christmas appeal, and held a Mad Hatter's Tea Party on the Macmillan Coffee Day.

The group is going from strength to strength and illustrates the key Polam Hall ethos of service to others.