A note from our philanthropy manager Polly De Giorgi

Every day I see girls in receipt of a bursary award thriving here at NHSG. I see them growing in confidence, making friends and finding themselves. As a school, we encourage our pupils to be the best versions of themselves and I think that is what makes us so special – every girl is noticed and appreciated for who she is as an individual. It is also what makes us so successful at welcoming girls from all different walks of life.

I received a bursary and to be honest, at the time, I don’t think I realised the enormity of the opportunity I was given until much later in my life. On reflection, I wouldn’t have done half of the things I have without that start in life. ‘It gave me guts’ is, I think, the best way to describe it – a solid belief in my capabilities and a lifelong desire to pursue adventure and to find adventure in even the small things.

My school was a relatively small boarding school in Scotland and what would have been a very narrow demographic was widened by their bursary scheme, making it a melting pot of different people, experiences and ideas. It opened hearts and minds and developed understanding and tolerance for different opinions and cultures that would not otherwise have formed part of their lives.

My education opened doors to a completely new world for me and it was life-changing. I was very privileged to have the education I did, and it is absolutely the reason I now do what I do. Every day I come to work, I see first-hand the results of my work and I would like to thank both our donors and our bursary recipients for making me want to come to work every day!