FABS - Friends at TAB

Friends at Becket School — bringing our school community together and making the magic happen.

More experiences. More opportunities. More smiles. That's FABS.

We're FABS, the parent–teacher association at Thomas A Becket Infant School, and we're here to make school life even more amazing for our children.

We're a registered charity powered by parents, carers, school staff and volunteers who share one simple goal: to give our children the best possible school experience. From unforgettable festivals and magical Christmas celebrations to exciting activities, improved facilities and valuable learning resources, we help make the extras happen — the things that enrich childhood, create lasting memories and make our school such a special place to be.

And we're proud of what we achieve together.

The best bit? Every family is already part of FABS. There's no joining fee, no paperwork and no pressure to volunteer. Whether you can spare an hour, offer a skill, support an event or simply spread the word, you're part of our community.

What does FABS actually do?

We bring energy, excitement and opportunity to school life, organising events that children look forward to and families love being part of.

FABSFest — our fantastic summer festival

Our flagship summer event brings the school community together for a brilliant celebration of fun, family and fundraising. Last year, FABSFest raised an incredible £5,214! That's a huge achievement and a fantastic example of what we can accomplish when our community pulls together.

Christmas magic

From our much-loved Christmas raffle to a magical Christmas experience featuring some very special visitors, we help make the festive season extra special for the children.

Spring into action

Our spring activity challenges encourage children to get moving, try new things and have fun, while bringing families together around a shared goal.

And so much more…

Not everything we do is about raising money. Some events are simply about creating happy memories, building friendships and making school feel like one big community. Because childhood is about so much more than the classroom — and those little extras can make a big difference.

Turning fundraising into real-life impact

Every pound raised by FABS goes back into supporting the children at Thomas A Becket Infant School. We're not fundraising for the sake of it. We're helping provide opportunities, resources and experiences that benefit our children now and for years to come.

Over the years, FABS has helped fund:

A brand-new library, complete with books to spark imaginations and inspire a love of reading.
Outdoor play equipment, giving children more opportunities to play, explore and enjoy their time at school.
IT equipment and learning resources, helping support teaching and learning.
The big Beach Project renovation, transforming an important part of the school environment.

These are tangible, lasting improvements that our school community can be proud of.

With school budgets under increasing pressure, fundraising is more important than ever. The additional resources and experiences that help make school life special don't simply appear — they happen because people care enough to make them happen.

Every ticket purchased, raffle prize donated, business partnership secured and volunteer hour given helps us do more.

When we come together, our children benefit.

Volunteers: the heart of everything we do

Let's be honest: FABS doesn't run itself!

Behind every successful event is a team of people giving their time, energy, ideas and enthusiasm. From planning and organising to setting up stalls, wrapping raffle prizes, painting faces, serving refreshments and tidying away at the end, volunteers make the whole thing possible.

No volunteers means no events, no fundraising and fewer opportunities for our children. That's why every helping hand matters.

You don't need special skills, previous experience or loads of spare time. You might be able to help for an hour at FABSFest, donate a raffle prize, lend a hand with preparations, share an idea or join the committee. Whatever you can offer, it all adds up.

And volunteering isn't just about getting things done. It's a brilliant way to meet other parents and carers, build friendships, learn new skills and feel more connected to your child's school.

You don't have to commit to everything. Help when you can, in a way that works for you.

Could you spare an hour? Could you bring an idea? Could you help make the next event happen? We'd love to have you on board.

Every family belongs at FABS

FABS is for everyone in our school community: mums, dads, grandparents, carers, new families and those who've been part of TAB for years.

You don't have to attend every event, join a committee or volunteer regularly to be part of what we do. Buying a ticket, sharing a post, donating something for a raffle or encouraging another family to get involved all help us build a stronger community.

And if you're new to the school, FABS is a wonderful way to get to know people. Many of us have made lasting friendships through being involved.

The more connected we are, the more we can achieve for our children.

Lots of ways to support FABS

Can't volunteer at events? No problem! There are plenty of ways to help us raise funds and make a difference without adding another commitment to your diary.

Shop online with easyfundraising

Did you know thousands of retailers will donate to FABS when you shop online, at no extra cost to you?

Simply sign up to easyfundraising, choose Friends at Becket School (FABS) as your cause, and shop as normal. From booking holidays and doing your weekly Tesco shop to buying school shoes and Christmas presents, your everyday purchases could generate extra funds for our school.

It's an easy way to support FABS without spending anything extra.

Workplace giving and employer support

Your workplace could be another fantastic source of support. Many employers offer charitable giving schemes that help organisations like FABS make an even bigger impact.

It's worth checking whether your employer offers:

Benevity or Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) schemes.
Payroll Giving.
Employer Match Funding.
Volunteer Grant Schemes.

Some employers will match donations or give money to charities when their employees volunteer. That means your time or fundraising efforts could go even further.

If your employer offers a scheme like this, please get in touch. We'd love to explore how it could benefit our school.

Become a class ambassador

We're keen for every class to have one or two class ambassadors who help keep parents and carers in the loop.

It's a simple but valuable role: sharing FABS news, promoting upcoming events, passing on requests for help and making sure families know what's happening.

You don't need to organise events or take on a big commitment. A few messages and reminders can make a real difference to how many families hear about and support what we do.

Interested in representing your child's class? We'd love to hear from you.

Calling our local businesses — let's work together!

Local businesses can play a huge part in making a difference to local children's lives.

FABS would love to build relationships with businesses in our community that want to support Thomas A Becket Infant School and help us create even more opportunities for our children.

Whether you're an independent shop, tradesperson, café, restaurant, service provider or larger local employer, there are lots of ways to get involved — and you don't need to be a big business to make a big difference.

Here's how your business could help:

Donate a raffle or auction prize. A voucher, product, experience or service can help us raise valuable funds at our events.
Sponsor an event. Support FABSFest or another FABS event and help us make it bigger, better and even more memorable.
Donate goods or services. From printing and supplies to equipment and practical expertise, in-kind support can make our fundraising go further.
Support our fundraising campaigns. Help us promote events, contribute to a specific project or support an initiative that benefits the children.
Encourage your employees to get involved. Staff volunteering, matched donations and workplace giving schemes can all make a real difference.

In return, we can explore appropriate opportunities to thank and recognise your support through our events and communications.

We're proud to be part of the local community, and we'd love to work with businesses that share our belief that every child deserves a brilliant start.

Could your business help us make something special happen? Get in touch for an informal chat. We'd love to hear your ideas.

Ready to be part of something brilliant?

FABS is proof that small contributions, when brought together, can achieve amazing things. A donated prize, an hour of volunteering, a shared post or a business willing to lend its support can all help us create better experiences and opportunities for our children.

You don't have to do everything. You just have to be willing to do something.

Whether you'd like to volunteer, become a class ambassador, support us through your workplace, partner with us as a local business or simply find out more, we'd love to hear from you.

Get in touch

Email: fabs@tabinfant.org.uk

Facebook: Friends at Becket School

Instagram: @friendsatbecketschool

Come and say hello at our next event, send us a message or drop us an email. Every new volunteer, supporter and community connection helps us do more.

Together, we can make school life even more memorable. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we are FABS!

Friends at Becket School (FABS) is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1110388.