10 minute read
BURSARIES
Relations Internship with the Office of the Governor of Massachusetts. He was also invited to deliver a speech to youth delegates at the UN Youth Assembly on the subject of global equality to a conference of UNDP officials. He received an academic scholarship for both of the universityrelated programmes and raised some money himself to cover his flights. A sizeable proportion of his visit was funded by a Dr Michael Toosey grant from Canford, (set up by an OC wishing to support pupils on bursaries.) Not exactly an average 17 year old’s summer holiday!
Whilst at Canford, Michael worked with the Development Office as a Pupil Leader for Philanthropy and helped to set up Canford’s first whole school fundraising event in aid of the Martin Marriott Foundation for bursaries. Michael spent the week between finishing his A Levels and Speech Day in the South Sudan volunteering for IOM (International Organisation for Migration). Just two days after Speech Day, Michael was back at Canford again taking part in the telethon, calling OCs to talk about news and life at Canford as well as inviting OCs to support the Martin Marriott Foundation.
“Receiving a bursary to attend Canford has been a life changing experience and has made such a difference to me. It is not just about the two years Sixth Form education that I have received, it has changed my whole perspective and opened up an incredibly valuable network. I fully support what the school is doing to support young people like myself and I am keen to give back and help whenever I am able to.”
Fizzie came to Canford on an arts scholarship with significant bursary support. Following a serious accident, Fizzie’s father is unable to work so her family is financially supported solely by her mother, meaning that a bursary was essential for a place at Canford. As a boarder, Canford quickly became home from home and her life has felt very settled and stable. She was always keen to return after the holidays. Fizzie has dyslexia so smaller classes and additional learning support have been very important for her progress. Attending the school has given her opportunities to take part in things she would not have had the chance to at a different school for example, the CCF trip to Norway, a visit to Rome and taking part in the Argentina partnership trip to an orphanage at the end of her Lower Sixth year.
“The Art department has been amazing in both resources on offer and teachers who have endless ideas when helping with my work. I developed a love of Classical Civilisations - something I had never encountered before Canford. I have taken part in dance and learnt the cello and played Lacrosse representing Canford’s 1st team. I received round the clock support when needed which has been invaluable.”
As a Pupil Leader for Philanthropy Fizzie was enthusiastic and instrumental in bringing together the first whole school fundraising event – a Colour Run - in aid of the Martin Marriott Foundation for bursaries. She was challenged by a few contemporaries who asked why they should raise money for bursaries and her brave response was – “if it wasn’t for a bursary, I wouldn’t be here!”
Finding the right pupils for our bursary programme is vital. Once a place has been offered at Canford any pupil may apply for a Bursary, some may be Scholars, others may not be. The level that we award varies according to individual circumstance and families have to demonstrate a genuine need. Canford works closely with partnership organisations and has developed excellent relationships in order to identify and select pupils who will benefit from a bursary. Our partners include The Bourne Academy, HMC European, Eastside Young Leaders’ Academy and the Royal National Children’s SpringBoard Foundation (Royal SpringBoard).
Royal SpringBoard is the UK’s largest boarding school bursary charity, providing life-transforming opportunites for disadvantaged and vulnerable young people in 90 independent and state boarding schools. The charity seeks to select suitable pupils from econmically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds who would benefit from a bursary place which covers the entire cost of a private, boarding education. Whilst ensuring that such children will be academically able to thrive, we do not see just the most able or talented, but those who stand to gain most from, and contribute to a boarding education. Once at Canford, there is subtle but additional pastoral care in place for bursary pupils to ensure that their transition to Canford is smooth and enables them to thrive. In addition, Royal SpringBoard provide support to pupils in their home environment during holiday periods.
Canford has been a Royal SpringBoard partner since 2016 when we welcomed the first bursary recipient into the Shells. We now have four Royal SpringBoard pupils at Canford.
www.royalspringboard.org.uk
A Mother’s Perspective
“I have always been keen for my boys to get a good start in life and a good education, but also to learn how to behave well, engage positively with other people and seek out a good career for themselves. For me to instil this was difficult to achieve on my own given our local environment. To help improve their life skills I sent them to East Side Young Leaders’ Academy which offers after school and Saturday activities. It was here that I found out about SpringBoard and the possibility of a bursary place at a boarding school. I knew that a boarding education could help them to escape the cycle, increase their aspirations and place them on a good footing for the future.
They worked hard but I did have to push them as they weren’t initially keen and could not see the benefits. When the possibility of a place became available we visited Canford and stayed overnight. It was so quiet and dark and we were not at all sure that we liked it. However, I knew in my heart that this would be a brilliant opportunity for my son if he could just get used to it. It was a real culture shock but I persuaded him that this was the right thing to do. Now at the end of the Christmas holidays, after just two years at Canford, my son is bored at home and can’t wait to get back on the train to school! It was hard when he first went as he was away for long periods of time and I missed him and also the help he would provide for me at home but I have got used to it now and my heart is at peace as I know he is in a good place but I still look forward to the holidays.
I have seen a lot of changes in my son. The first change that was evident was his lifestyle choices. He was not interested at all in sport and exercise before and in fact to start with when he went to Canford, I was concerned that he was not eating enough! However, I was reassured by his Housemaster that he was eating plenty of good healthy food but was also taking part in so much exercise and also using the gym. Having watched his peers at Canford, he was keen to join in and is now a keen sportsman. Another change that I noticed early on was the effect that he is having on his friends when he returns home. None of his friends had ever heard of boarding school and had no idea what it was like. They all ask when he’ll be back and they are so keen to know what he has been doing and what his plans are. It is really evident that he is helping them to understand what is achievable and what other opportunities there are outside of their community. He is becoming a role model within our local community which works to inspire others but also places some responsibility on him to work hard, do well and make the most of this opportunity.”
If you Will, they can NINEVEH LEGACY SOCIETY
Leaving a gift to Canford in your Will is a wonderful way to ensure that the school continues to thrive and provides tremendous opportunities for young people for generations to come. All gifts big or small are greatly appreciated. Providing for Canford in your Will demonstrates a tremendous commitment on your part, one that we think should be honoured during your lifetime. The Nineveh Legacy Society is our way of honouring and thanking those who remember Canford in their Will.
The Society is named in honour of the lasting legacy of the Assyrian Frieze brought from Nineveh by Sir Austen Henry Layard and the impact of this on the development of Canford. Membership of the Nineveh Legacy Society is granted to all those who have signalled an intention to make a bequest to Canford. Members are invited each year to a lunch at Canford to honour their commitment to the school. If you would like to find out more about leaving a legacy to Canford, including the inheritance tax benefits, please visit www.canford.com/Nineveh-Legacy-Society
REDUCING YOUR INHERITANCE TAX BILL BY LEAVING A LEGACY TO CANFORD Below are examples of how this would work in practice.
Gross estate of £500,000 No charity bequest With a 10% charity bequest Gross estate £500,000 £500,000 Less nil band -£325,000 -£325,000 Net estate £175,000 £175,000 Charitable donation £0 -£17,500 (10%) Taxable estate £175,000 £157,500 Less Inheritance Tax -£70,000 (40%) -£56,700 (36%) Remaining estate (Incl. nil rate band) £430,000 £425,800
Therefore the estate’s beneficiaries would forego £4,200 but the charity would benefit from a total of £17,500
Gross estate of £1,000,000 No charity bequest With a 10% charity bequest Gross estate £1,000,000 £1,000,000 Less nil band -£325,000 -£325,000 Net estate £675,000 £675,000 Charitable donation £0 -£67,500 (10%) Taxable estate £675,000 £607,500 Less Inheritance Tax -£270,000 (40%) -£218,700 (36%) Remaining estate (Incl. nil rate band) £730,000 £713,800
Therefore the estate’s beneficiaries would forego £16,200 but the charity would benefit from a total of £67,500
“I came to Canford soon after the War as a sensitive child. Five years later I left for National Service in the Army confident, optimistic and ready to face any challenge. I shall always be grateful for my Canford education and I have been thrilled to see the School thrive and develop becoming the outward looking liberal establishment which it is today and that is why I have left a gift in my Will to Canford.” ADRIAN SCOTT (B56)
“I have decided to leave the bulk of my assets to Canford to be used to fund Scholarships and Bursaries. Having visited the School regularly and seen the huge improvements to buildings and facilities since I left in 1962, I would like to help others who cannot afford the fees have a chance to learn and grow up in a unique and very beautiful place with unrivalled opportunities.” HUGH ROBINSON (C62)
To raise awareness of the Martin Marriott Foundation amongst Canfordians we decided to organise a fun, whole school fundraising event. As Development Director, I am fortunate enough to be assigned three Pupil Leaders and their first task was to ask other pupils what type of event they would like to take part in. Without hesitation, the majority wanted to do a Colour Run.
For those not in the know, this is a fun run where at intervals, coloured powder is thrown over you! At the end, this results in runners being completely multi-coloured.
The Pupil Leaders did research on where to source the materials, created advertising and encouraged pupils to take part by promoting the event in assembly. We decided that we could open up the run to parents and other members of the Canford Community which coincided nicely with some ‘at home’ events.
The photographs speak for themselves and a great time was had by all! Over 200 people took part and the event raised £1,261 for the MMF and Cancer Research.
