Friends of Mereside School PTA
Welcome to our school community
We’re parents, carers and school staff working together to support Mereside and make things happen for our children.
Our aim is simple: raise useful funds for the school, create brilliant experiences for the children and help make Mereside feel like a real community.
From school discos and raffles to our Summer Fayre, there are plenty of ways to join in. Whether your child has just started at Mereside or you’ve been part of the school for years, we’d love to welcome you.
What we do
Bring people together
We organise events and activities for children and families to enjoy throughout the school year, creating memories and helping families get to know one another.
Raise funds for our children
Our fundraising helps provide additional resources, equipment and experiences that enrich school life.
Give preloved uniform a new home
Our preloved uniform sales help families save money, reduce waste and support the school at the same time.
Keep families connected
Through our newsletter, WhatsApp community and meetings, we share what’s happening and give everyone opportunities to contribute.
Thank you for helping us make a difference
Last year we raised over £8,000. Thank you to everyone who bought tickets, volunteered, donated prizes or helped behind the scenes. It makes a huge difference to the experience school can provide.
This year, our fundraising target is £10,000. Every event attended, raffle ticket bought and helping hand will help us get there.
What’s coming up?
Pop these dates in your diary! We’ll share more information through school and our WhatsApp community as each event gets closer.
Friday 16 October 2026 Pumpkin Party school disco
Tuesday 20 October 2026 PTA AGM
Friday 6 November 2026 Firework Friday non-uniform day
Thursday 10 December 2026 Winter Raffle
Friday 22 January 2027 Fruity Friday non-uniform day
Friday 5 February 2027 Rock Disco
1–5 March 2027 Wonderlicious Week
Friday 30 April 2027 Rainbow Day
Friday 7 May 2027 Neon Rave Disco
Friday 11 June 2027 Donut Day
Saturday 3 July 2027 Mereside Summer Fayre View event details and book tickets
Download a printable event calendar
How can you help?
You don’t need to join the committee or commit to helping all year. Some people help regularly; others lend a hand when they can. If there’s one thing you enjoy doing (like face painting, baking or sorting prizes) offer your support. It all counts.
Here’s a flavour of ways you could help:
Quick and easy ways to jump in
Help for an hour at a disco, share event reminders with your year group, or come to a PTA meeting with an idea or some feedback.
A little more time to spare
Help decorate or set up for an event, host the PTA café or take a turn running a Summer Fayre stall.
Help organise or take the lead
Coordinate part of a disco like face painting or snacks, organise a raffle, book Summer Fayre stallholders or manage a feature stall.
Help without leaving the house
Contact local businesses for raffle prizes, package treats, wrap prize hampers or help organise tombola donations.
Little extras children love
Help coordinate an after-school treat sale or serve refreshments at Sports Day.
Have another idea, a useful skill or a connection with a potential sponsor? We’d love to hear from you. Get in touch to lend a hand
Support Mereside while you shop
You can raise funds for the school through easyfundraising, at no extra cost to you.
Sign up, choose Mereside Primary Academy as your cause and shop with participating retailers through easyfundraising. The retailer then makes a donation to the school. Support Mereside through easyfundraising
Label their things with Stikins
Help those jumpers, water bottles and lunchboxes find their way home! Stikins are stick-on name labels for clothes and everyday school belongings.
Order using our fundraising number 36011 and Friends of Mereside School will receive commission from your purchase, at no extra cost to you. Order Stikins name labels
Stay in the loop
PTA news and announcements
Our Friends of Mereside WhatsApp community is where we share PTA news, event details, ticket links, reminders and opportunities to help. Join our WhatsApp announcements group
Year-group chats
What lunch week is it? When’s the school trip? Has anyone come home with a missing jumper?
Our year-group WhatsApp chats are a useful place to ask fellow parents and carers those everyday questions. You’ll find joining links in our September welcome newsletter, or you can email us for help finding your group.
These are volunteer-run parent groups, independent of the school, where families and carers support one another with school life.
Our newsletter
Read our newsletter for PTA news, upcoming events and ways to get involved.
[September 2026 — Welcome newsletter]
Meet your team
Chair: Sarah Golden
Secretary: Rebecca John
Treasurer: Andrew Turner
Committee members: Mrs Hughes, Isla Hunwick, Jasmin Cartwright, Kate Payne, Kay Wilson, Louise Hartley, Sarah Rutland, Sarah Connop, Stacy Goddard, Alison Toothill, Claire Bloor, Emily Challinor and Heather Jolly.
If you see us around school, come and say hello! We’re always happy to talk about what’s coming up and how you could get involved.
Come to a meeting
Everyone is welcome to come along, share ideas and find out what’s being planned. We share meeting dates through our PTA communications, or you can email us for details.
Our next Annual General Meeting is on Tuesday 20 October 2026.
Newsletters and committee information
September 2026 — Welcome newsletter Link· Mereside Matters — Spring–Summer 2025 · Friends of Mereside School PTA Constitution
Volunteering in school
If you’re interested in helping in the classroom with activities such as reading, art, cookery or games, please contact the school office. They can explain the current opportunities and the application, safeguarding and training requirements for school volunteers.
Get in touch
Whether you have an idea, a question, a raffle prize to donate or some time to spare, we’d love to hear from you. Email: meresidepta@gmail.com Events and tickets: pta-events.co.uk/meresideevents