St John’s Catholic Specialist School in Boston Spa is celebrating a remarkable achievement after raising enough money to buy 98 chickens for CAFOD’s “Glitter Chickens” project, supporting communities in Kenya who lost their livelihoods due to drought.
As part of its commitment to CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development and the official aid agency for the Catholic Church in England and Wales), the school welcomed visitors from the charity to share updates on global fundraising initiatives.
Inspired by the “Glitter Chickens” project, students across the school took part in creative fundraising activities, from individual class projects to a whole-school CAFOD walk. The event, which saw the entire school walk to the local church, was linked to Palm Sunday celebrations and the Jubilee Year theme of Pilgrims of Hope.
The school raised a total of £373. In October 2025, Maggie from CAFOD returned to St John’s to explain how the funds were already helping communities in Kenya. This inspired a sixth form class to organise a break-time toast sale, raising additional money to support CAFOD soup kitchens as part of their Diocese Faith in Action Award.
Frances Murray, speaking on behalf of the school, said: “We are delighted that our students’ creativity and commitment have enabled us to buy 98 chickens for CAFOD’s project. This initiative was especially meaningful for our school, as we already care for chickens on site and students enjoy attending the school chicken club. Our work with CAFOD allows us to live out our Pilgrims of Hope pledge and make a real difference to communities in need.”
The fundraising not only strengthened the school’s global charity links but also connected with local outreach. And as Christmas approaches, St John’s is proud to extend its charitable efforts by collecting donations for the local food bank, ensuring support for both international and local communities.