I want to thank you all once again for your incredible generosity. This year, we have received the highest ever number of donations with the Emanuel community truly coming together to support the Battersea Rise Trust by funding additional means-tested bursaries, outreach projects and our exciting new capital plans.
We have been able to fund a full transformative free place through deposit returns from the families of 2021 leavers and a nearly a third of scholars have offered to put their financial saving towards a means-tested bursary. We are therefore set to offer an additional 8 free places next year which impact not only the child and their family but the whole school community.
As well as financial support, you have all been so generous with your time, expertise and donations of books and devices. You donated over 260 digital devices to children in our partner schools along with thousands of new and gently used children’s books. Our pupils also joined their parents in getting involved by taking part in our ‘43fortheBRT’ campaign with many finding incredibly creative ways to raise funds for our bursary appeal. Pupils also brought cheer to many of our older OEs by writing them a personalised Christmas card. We had so many replies from OEs who enjoyed their stories and appreciated the gesture at a time when many were self-isolating and away from their traditional support network.
I am moving on in the Summer, but I leave you in the very capable hands of Sarah McGee, the new Development Director, as well as Anna Van Es, Emanuel Development Manager. We look forward to introducing you to Sarah in the autumn term.
Jack Clark (Development Director)