At the beginning of this year, I was honoured to be asked to be the 205th President of the Reed’s Annual Foundation Appeal which was established under the guise of the London Orphan Asylum in 1813 by the Rev. Andrew Reed. It is the longest running, uninterrupted Appeal in the country, having let neither World War halt operations. I am determined that Covid-19 won’t do so either.

About the Foundation:

The core mission has always been to break the cycle of hopelessness facing young people from vulnerable backgrounds, and to provide them with a future full of opportunity by giving them not only an education, but the pastoral care and stability so absent from their lives. The Covid-19 Pandemic is the latest in a string of stressors putting greater strain on those children already at risk of physical and mental abuse, neglect, and lacking in opportunity due to their socio-economic background. As a result, the Foundation is expecting and planning for an increase in demand for places, most especially where it provides 100% bursaries.

On this note, I would be enormously grateful if you would join me in supporting this very worthy cause. Every pound donated goes directly to supporting the Foundation pupils.

A guide to what donations might contribute towards:

£50 will pay for a session with a bereavement counsellor

£100 provides one child with extra-curricular activities for one term

£250 will pay for one child’s school uniform

£500 will pay for music lessons for one child for one year

£1000 will host a day’s educational event for 200 disadvantaged primary school children

The Foundation has benefited over 12,000 children to date, and has such a meaningful impact on the lives of individual children which extends to their families and communities too. Please help us to continue this important work.