The Old Girls’ Club runs a charitable trust whose main aim is to support Old Girls in their own fundraising efforts for charitable causes dear to their heart. If they are prepared to give their time and effort on behalf of a good cause, then we will in turn support them, as long as their particular cause falls within the Rules and Regulations of the Charitable Trust. Often their involvement has stemmed from personal experience, frequently of a sad or tragic nature, due to disability or bereavement, but in some cases the causes are certainly happier ones.
We also keep money aside to award grants to “new” Old Girls who have just left school and are taking part in Gap Year projects that involve raising a considerable sum of money to be able to take part in a “volunteering” exercise.
Money is raised three ways:
Firstly through the stall at Calendar Sale We also have a stall selling home made preserves, marmalade, jam and chutneys which is very popular. If you have items that you wish to donate, please contact the e-mail address at the bottom of this page.
Secondly, we man a sideshow at the school summer fete, namely Fun Day. This event is run by the Parents’ Teachers Association, who kindly allow us to run our sideshow which is very popular, probably due to the fact it is a form of gambling, with the odds in favour of the Charitable Trust. On top of that, we also sell more home made preserves and some garden plants on the side.
Finally, and the easiest fundraising of all, is through donations made by Old Girls and the collection bucket that is passed round on Old Girls’ Day itself.
Mackenzie Travel Fund
This is named after Miss Mackenzie, who was Headmistress from 1945 to 1966 and who died in 1998. Donations were given in her memory and a travel fund was started in her name which enables grants to be given to Old Girls who are travelling abroad, either as part of their university course, e.g. medical electives, or to study during a sabbatical later in life. They too have to raise considerable funds to be able to pursue their studies/foreign travel but do not qualify for grants from the Charitable Trust as their aim is not charitable, but as a part of their studies, although in the case of medical electives the work they do whilst abroad is certainly very worthwhile.
Should you wish to apply for a charitable donation, or a Mackenzie Travel Fund grant, please apply to the Secretary, Sally Fleming here.