RGS FOUNDATION CHANGING LIVES SINCE 1675
WE REACH OUT WE CONNECT WE INFORM WE ASK
THE REIGATIAN COMMUNITY – PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER WELCOME TO THE REIGATIAN COMMUNITY Whether you are a current or former parent, pupil, member of staff, friend or partner of the school, we welcome your connectivity and involvement as a member of our global Reigatian community.
RGS FOUNDATION: OUR ROLE, OUR WORK Reigate Grammar School (RGS) was founded through the vision, generosity and philanthropic support of Henry Smith (a successful London merchant and Alderman) and the people of Reigate in 1675. What is remarkable is that the school remains to this day upon its original site. The school has just been shortlisted by the prestigious UK Social Mobility Awards 2021 for opening up its world-class education to children from all backgrounds. Inspired by the philosophy of the school’s founders, the Foundation aims to be able to offer any child a place at RGS through the Changing Lives bursary initiative. Our success depends on the benevolence of the whole Reigatian community and we invite you to contribute with them to help shape the future of our great school.
WE REACH OUT
in friendship to engage and build relationships
WE CONNECT
our community and develop the Reigatian network
WE INFORM
through communications and raising awareness
WE ASK
for support to make a philanthropic impact “We exist to support the school and its aim of providing pupils with an outstanding educational experience. True to our ethos and moral purpose, we have an open-access vision, where Reigate Grammar School is able to provide opportunities to any talented child, no matter what their background”. Sean Davey, Head of Foundation
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NETWORK REIGATIAN The Foundation Office has access to a pool of experienced professionals who provide guidance and potential job contact opportunities to current RGS students, recent graduates and those taking their first steps in their chosen career.
“The Foundation was a huge help in connecting me with relevant professionals in the extensive Reigatian network. It should be everyone’s starting point when it comes to networking and finding work experience or internships.” Matt Taylor (RGS 2008-2015) CAN YOU HELP? We are always on the lookout for individuals to step forward, get involved and offer their expertise to other Reigatians. If you are able to offer work experience, advice or become a mentor to Reigatians please contact us at foundation@reigategrammar.org Inspiring Minds to ‘Think Big’ event
The RGS Foundation provides leadership roles, giving Sixth Form students the opportunity to develop new skills across a range of activities
PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING We develop relationships with professionals within the Reigatian community, encouraging members to network, connect and support one another. This takes the form of RGS Professionals events such as receptions with industryspecific guest speakers (examples include Financial Lifestyle Management at M Restaurant, Jellyfish at The Shard) as well as social and fundraising events such as the RGS Professionals Charity Golf Day. More recently, virtual RGS Professionals events have covered topics such as preparing a Covid-secure workspace and the mental wellbeing of your workforce. With over 2,000 members, we invite you to join our RGS Professionals group on LinkedIn.
Reigate Grammar School Professionals If you are not on LinkedIn and would like to find out more or join the group, please email us at foundation@reigategrammar.org
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EVENTS In a normal year, we would host a number of events and activities to connect and engage our community. Examples include: • Foundation welcome evening • Run Reigate and Ride Reigate • Henry Smith Club Dinner • Steam Wine Bar sport dinners • Golf days • An evening with… • Charity 7s rugby tournament • Gala networking dinners • Founder’s Day SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Advertise your business to the connected Reigatian community! There are numerous sponsorship opportunities available for events. We are also always looking for new and interesting venues. If you can help, please get in touch at foundation@reigategrammar.org
OVERSEAS COMMUNITY The Reigatian community continues to spread around the globe. From New York to New Zealand, there are members of the community in most continents either working, with their families or enjoying a well-earned retirement. We have held overseas regional gatherings in Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Australia, America and Canada. We also have official RGS Overseas Ambassadors in all of the regions highlighted, so if you are living, travelling through or visiting any of these territories please email foundation@reigategrammar.org so that we can connect you.
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REUNIONS As well as our regular programme of community events, we also hold various dedicated reunions for our alumni: •G raduation Brunch (for recent university leavers) •T en Years On (since leaving RGS) •S ilver Reunion (25 years since leaving) •G old Reunion (50 years since leaving) •B ack to School Day •S ports Tour Reunions
Photos, far left, top to bottom: Run Reigate Henry Smith Club Dinner, M Restaurant Charity Golf Day at Reigate Hill GC Photos, left, top to bottom: Gold Reunion, Class of 1969 Geneva gathering Graduation Brunch, Class of 2017
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KEEP IN TOUCH Keep informed about what members of the Reigatian community are up to. Perhaps it’s a former pupil hitting the headlines, exciting events or someone who has climbed Everest! As well as sharing our news, we want to hear what you are up to, so please connect and engage with us...
PUBLICATIONS Each edition of our annual publication, The Reigatian magazine, includes a summary of activities from the previous year, features and interviews with members of our community, recollections and archive pieces and a snapshot of school news.
EMAIL NEWSLETTERS Our bi-monthly e-Reigatian email newsletter provides updates on recent and forthcoming activities. Additional emails may also be sent from time-to-time.
ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES The Reigatian magazine offers a unique opportunity to reach a target audience of highly influential people. Magazines are kept and treasured by readers, while the e-Reigatian newsletters provide regular touch-points. To discuss how to promote your business to over 7,000 connected Reigatians, both offline and online, email the team at foundation@reigategrammar.org
FOUNDATION WEBSITE Find out about the RGS Foundation, recent and forthcoming events, notable Reigatians and much more by visiting our website: rgs.foundation
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NEED TO UPDATE YOUR DETAILS? To keep you up to date with Reigatian community news, we rely on the information we get from you. If your details change (name, address, email, phone number or job role), let us know by email at foundation@reigategrammar.org, phone 01737 222231 or via our website (see QR code).
ENGAGE ON SOCIAL MEDIA Social media plays such an important part in peoples’ lives and is a great way to connect, so please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram so that you can keep up to date with all the latest news from the Reigatian community.
@foundationRGS Reigatian Community @rgsfoundation Reigate Grammar School Professionals
THE RGS APP Follow the latest school and RGS Foundation news via the Reigate Grammar School app. Find school-related information all in one place, access live-streamed videos of events and activities, interact with other Reigatians via the community chat and enable push notifications to view the information that’s most relevant to you. Download to your mobile device using the QR code (works on both Apple and android devices) 07
SOCIAL MOBILITY AND OUTREACH COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Sir Peter Lampl (RGS 1959-1964)
As a community we aim to tackle social mobility with the provision of educational opportunities for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Schools like ours have both a responsibility to the local community, and an opportunity to play a significant role, in helping children from all backgrounds succeed in life.
At the start of the pandemic, we wrote to the over 70s in our community to offer practical help. We made over 1,000 visors for front-line staff and coordinated the collection and delivery of shopping and prescriptions for local Reigatians. RGS has been working in partnership with local charities, Loveworks and Stripey Stork, to collect donations of food, toiletries, clothing and other items for local families in need. Reigatians have also generously supported appeals to help Afghan refugees and those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. #RGSWeCare
“Lack of educational opportunity is arguably the biggest social challenge of our time… this is a tragedy for every young person who fails to fulfil their potential, and highlights a national waste of talent that threatens the future economic health of our country.” Sir Peter Lampl (RGS 1959-1964) Chairman of The Sutton Trust
Stripey Stork teen clothing donation collection at RGS, April 2021
RGS INTERNATIONAL (RGSI) – BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
RGS Vietnam was opened by the UK Trade Envoy and the British Ambassador 08
RGSI was established in 2017 with an initial goal of establishing five schools in three different territories by 2025 and as part of a ‘Global Village’ strategy. By developing international connections, we open up cultural and learning links across continents and provide visit and exchange opportunities for students and staff which will further enrich the RGS community. RGSI has established a strong partnership in China with Kaiyuan Education and RGS Nanjing opened in 2019. In 2022, RGS Vietnam officially opened, making Reigate Grammar the first independent UK school to have a franchise and trademark in Vietnam. The establishment of such educational partnerships provides a significant financial contribution, enabling RGS to strengthen investment in Changing Lives bursaries.
•P roviding bursaries to the children of key worker
children at various entry points throughout the school •P roviding bursaries in our Sixth Form for children from disadvantaged backgrounds who wish to follow A level courses to access medicine and related studies For more information or to find out how you can help, visit rgs.foundation/nightingale-fund
CHANGING LIVES campaign...
Launched January 2014
79 £8.2m
bursary recipients supported to date
raised since the launch of the Changing Lives campaign in 2014 (up to December 2021)
1675 BURSARY FUND 09
ADVERTISING AND SPONSORSHIP We would like to thank the following companies for their ongoing support:
BECOME ONE OF OUR VALUED PARTNERS To advertise your company to the engaged and connected Reigatian community, please email foundation@reigategrammar.org or call 01737 222231 to discuss a package to suit your business and budget. All sponsorship and advertising revenue goes towards our Changing Lives campaign.
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AS A REIGATIAN COMMUNITY
BY PULLING TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE...
MEET THE TEAM
SEAN DAVEY Head of Foundation spd@reigategrammar.org
JONNY HYLTON Associate Director jdh@reigategrammar.org
CATHERINE HUTCHISON Development Executive cxh@reigategrammar.org
CLARE ADAMS Reigatian Community Administrator cla@reigategrammar.org
NIKKI BURCH Reigatian Community Officer njb@reigategrammar.org
Foundation Office Reigate Grammar School, Reigate Road, Reigate RH2 0QS 01737 222231 rgs.foundation
@foundationRGS Reigatian Community Reigate Grammar School Professionals
@rgsfoundation Stay connected via the new Reigate Grammar School app
Registered Charity number 1081898