For 50 years pupils at an Isleworth school have been taught the true meaning of Christmas by giving presents to disadvantaged members of the community.
Every December, as part of Gumley House School's Advent Liturgy, girls from each year group prepare gift parcels for young and old residents who would benefit from a little extra support at this time of year.
Loredana Roberts, business and enterprise manager at the St John's Road school, said: "We hope it teaches the girls about giving, taking the edge off the materialism of the modern Christmas. We go back to the grass roots and the true value of what it means."
Three separate services were held on December 17, 18 and 19, where the pupils sang hymns with their teachers and then took turns to take their gifts to the front of the school hall and lay them by a nativity scene decorated with candles.
"Even if you aren't religious, it's a lovely service to be involved in," said Loredana. "The girls really get into it because they feel like they have done something meaningful. The whole essence and message of the services is to think of others."
Hounslow Council's social services department gives the school a list each year with the ages and sexes of the children who they think would benefit from gifts.
Parcels for the elderly normally contain a range of non-perishable foods.
