THE MILFORD HAVEN School’s Tags on the Tree project has been running for a number of very successful
years and was born from a direct need to support our community at what can be a vulnerable time of
year for some. Every year our Tags on the Tree initiative supports the Patch Toy Appeal. In early
November a Christmas tree is decorated with tags, each featuring the anonymised details of a child
living within our local community. These are all children that are affected by deprivation and have been
referred to the Patch Toy Appeal.
The Patch Charity is our Defender House charity and Mrs Wilcox Head of Defender House said “I am
extremely proud of the growth of this project. Patch is the Defender House charity and the pupils and
staff who belong in Defender House support through a multitude of different projects throughout the
year including the Tags on the Tree initiative”. Milford Haven School staff are invited to take part in Tags
on the Tree by choosing a tag, buying a gift for that child and popping it back under the tree. The
presents are then collected by Patch in time for delivery for Christmas.
Last year we extended this project when we received multiple requests from our local community asking
if they could support the project. These requests were truly inspiring and confirmed what we already
knew about our amazing community and that is that people want opportunities to be generous and help
each other.
With the ever growing need of our community and the support of other local organisations we decided
to take Tags on the Tree on Tour and we erected Christmas trees featuring tags in three other locations.
Milford Haven Library, Neyland Library and Hubberston and Hakin Community Centre. With the new
locations we more than tripled our usual donation and more families were supported.
This year, Milford Haven School and Patch Charity have teamed up to take this project that was born in
Milford Haven School and turn it into a Pembrokeshire wide initiative by offering other locations the
opportunity to support. Locations that you can pick up a tag from include Milford Haven and Neyland
Libraries, Hubberston and Hakin Community Centre, Milford Youth Matters Pop Up Shop, B-Fit Gym and
Pembroke Leisure Centre. Alongside our community Tags on the Tree, Milford Haven School will
continue to support with their staff participation alongside Ysgol Harri Tudur joining in to support. More
details about when the tags will be available to choose will be released on social media very soon.
Ms Morris, Headteacher, has said, “The last few years have been very humbling for many of us and we are
possibly aware now more than ever before of the greater need within our school community. I am extremely
proud that this project has grown far past the gates of Milford Haven School, last year into select venues in
the community and this year even further afield with other schools joining this fantastic initiative. I couldn’t
be prouder of every single person involved in delivering this project and supporting such a fantastic cause”.
