Changing Lives
News from Bedford School Foundation Trust 2022 Newsletter
Welcome to our first newsletter which we hope will become a regular feature, keeping you updated on how your donations and support are helping to change the lives of boys at the school, and exciting plans for the school estate. While we’ve been focussing on the merger of the Foundation and the Bedford School Trust (see page 3), your generous donations have enabled us to continue to enhance the day-to-day experience of the current pupils. The Estate Masterplan, unveiled by the Head Master last autumn, is gaining momentum. The school went to planning at the end of May for the new academic building in Burnaby Road. By way of reminder, this transformational development, and its knock-on consequences, will see upgrades to eight academic departments, three-day houses, a boarding house, medical centre and IT centre. If things go to plan, planning consent will be given by October with the main works, possibly, next summer – with a potential completion date of 2025. There is, however, quite a long way to go to achieve that! I would like to thank you for all your support and hope you enjoy reading about how your generous donations are supporting the school and the boys. Lance Feaver (69-74)
Introducing Vincent Gaten, Development Director Vin Gaten joins us from Uppingham School, where he was Deputy Foundation Director for almost four years. At Uppingham, Vin evolved the fundraising offer into a multichannel programme of giving opportunities that supported all donors to make meaningful contributions to the school. In his own words:
Vin Gaten, Development Director
“ I was proud to be offered the role of Development Director at Bedford and, since joining, have been warmly welcomed by all.
My approach to fundraising is to create exciting, enriching opportunities for prospective donors to support causes close to their hearts. Good fundraising is never pushy and should be as respectful of a donor’s absolute right to say no to a giving opportunity, as it is celebratory of those who offer their support. Bedford is a great school that has helped thousands of boys become successful, respectable men; many of whom, I am confident, will be happy to consider contributing towards the institution’s latest evolution “
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Lance Feaver (69-74)
Inside this issue New Fitness Facilities 2 Together Again 2 Langham Pavilion 2 Contact Details 2 Regular Giving 3 Large Gifts 3 Bursaries 3 BSF & BST Merger 3 Community Generosity 3 Estates Masterplan 4 Leaving a Legacy 4
Special points of interest • • •
Merger of the Foundation and Trust Estate Masterplan Replicating stone Inscriptions
2022 Newsletter
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Stronger and Fitter Last year, as part of the OB Club’s Wellbeing Week, the Bedford School Foundation launched a prize draw to raise money towards a new state-of-the-art Strength and Conditioning Facility. The plan was to convert part of the old theatre into a new training facility for the boys. Through the generosity of those who donated some wonderful prizes, our community (OBs, Past and Present Parents) raised just over £3,000 towards the new facility. The equipment is now being used daily, helping the boys improve their strength and fitness levels and, with the option for squads to train altogether, the facility is also helping to facilitate improved teamworking skills.
Replicating Stone Inscriptions Anyone who has spent time on the steps of the Langham Pavilion recently, may have noticed that the inscriptions on many of the paving stones have become worn. These were installed when the Pavilion was refurbished in 2011 as recognition of generous donations from our community. To ensure these can continue to be seen by generations to come, the Foundation arranged for the wording on each paving stone to be replicated on brass plaques. These were then mounted on Oak Boards and placed either side of the doors at the top of the outside stairs of the Pavilion. If you purchased a stone, please do pop over and take a look next time you are visiting us.
Get in Touch Bedford School Foundation Trust Bedford School, De Parys Avenue Bedford MK40 2TU Tel: 01234 362263 Foundation@bedfordschool.org.uk
Together Again It was wonderful to be able to thank our donors and supporters at our Commemoration of Founders and Benefactors service and lunch last October. It was the first time that some of our guests had ventured out to an organised event since the beginning of the pandemic. The Chapel Service was very special, with the choir singing a beautiful rendition of the school hymn, Domus Pater, and an uplifting and amusing sermon from our guest preacher, the Rt Revd. Stephen Conway SCP, Lord Bishop of Ely. Following the Chapel service, guests and staff enjoyed a three-course lunch where many caught up with old friends and new friendships were formed. From Governors, Trustees, Old Bedfordians, parents (current and past) and staff, it was such a delight to see everybody coming together and enjoying each other’s company.
“Over lunch, the atmosphere was joyous as many caught up with old friends and new friendships were formed” During their speeches, both the Head Master, and the Chairman of Bedford School Foundation, Lance Feaver, thanked everybody for attending and for their continued support for the school. Gifts of all sizes are always very much appreciated, and, in recent years, it has been particularly kind of people to make provision for the school in their wills. Lance referred to the ‘Decade of Giving’ brochure highlighting how the community’s support has played such a vital part in assisting the school’s development plans and its scholarship and bursary programme. Prior to Founders & Benefactor’s, on Saturday 2nd October, a decade after the refurbishment of the Langham Pavilion, we welcomed back donors for a prematch lunch in the café bar, to thank them for their generosity. After lunch, the 1st XV went on to win in a hard-fought ‘battle’ against Eton – to the delight of our ‘home supporters’!
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Commemoration of Founders and Benefactors Lunch
2022 Newsletter
Regular Giving Thanks to the generosity of one of the members of our community who donates regularly to the Foundation, the science department was able to purchase some new microscopes. Seen here being used by the Zoology Club, these powerful microscopes will enhance the learning of the boys in science subjects. If you would like to find out more about giving regular donations to the Foundation, please do get in touch.
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BSF and BST Merger We are pleased to report that members of the Foundation and Trustees who attended the AGM on Saturday 25th June voted to merge the Bedford School Foundation and Bedford School Trust. The merged entity, which will be known as the Bedford School Foundation Trust, will deliver a number of key benefits: •
Improving Art Facilities
Increase visibility of fundraising activities
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The sculpture studio underwent a major refurbishment over the summer 2020, much to the delight of our artistic pupils. Thanks to the generosity of Old Bedfordian Gilbert Lloyd (50-58), and his wife Elfie, the old studio, located close to the Quarry Theatre, benefited from a major overhaul, opening the studio up to create a bright and airy space with a wonderful, tranquil ambience. With two picture windows looking out onto the Quarry Gardens, the new studio is an inspiration to all who study sculpture. “The transformation of the studio is unbelievable. Light is absolutely integral to the sculpting process and the bright, wide open space of the new studio offers the boys the room to sculpt, construct and cast work of a larger and more ambitious scale” James Nicholl
Scholarships and Bursaries The School’s Bursary programme has a clear objective to widen access by offering funded places (partial or fully) to young people who would not otherwise be able to attend Bedford. The scheme is designed to give young people from a variety of backgrounds the life-changing opportunities a Bedford education creates. The generosity of our donors helped Rahul, a Bursary recipient, who went on to achieve a first class honours degree in Philosophy from Durham. His parents had never considered an independent education. However, friends on the cricket circuit, who could see Rahul’s talent for the sport, suggested that he should apply to join in year 7. He went on to receive a high score in the International Baccalaureate, and was the first in his family to attend university. If you would like to find out more about donating to Bursaries, either through regular giving, as a one off donation, or by leaving an amount in your will, please contact Vin Gaten, Development Director, on vgaten@bedfordschool.org.uk and he will be happy to get in touch.
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Avoid duplication Streamline the operational processes • Achieve meaningful cost savings, whilst maximizing investment returns • Strengthen Governance The Bedford School Foundation Trust will continue to support the school and ensure that it has the best facilities and offers places to boys who would not normally be able to attend the school.
Your Generosity We are very fortunate to belong to a community who have a real affinity and love for the school. There are many ways that people offer their support, either by giving their time, expertise or financially. During 2021, the Foundation received over £310,000 from donors which helped it to support the advancement of education of pupils of Bedford School by providing funds, items, services and facilities. The Bedford School Trust has also supported the school in many ways, examples of which were upgrading the archives, purchasing a milling machine for the DT Department and purchasing a livestreaming service for the school cricket. Thank you to all of our supporters.
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2022 Newsletter
Estates Masterplan The proposed Estates Masterplan will usher in the next, and arguably most exciting, phase of Bedford School’s development. The concept, which has been submitted for planning permission, would re-imagine much of the campus, and refine the aesthetic of the school’s entrance via the installation of a new facility to house Maths, Entrepreneurship, Computer Science, Business Studies and Economics. These carefully chosen subjects are woven into Artist's impression of the new facility Bedford’s strategic vision. Our young men will grow up in a world where digital technologies underpin their lives, and where entrepreneurial endeavours will be some of their most likely routes to success. We need to enable our boys to pursue these areas boldly, in the best possible facilities, to foster the skills and determination they need to thrive. Success for the boys should not be judged by their eventual career progression alone, however. It is also our duty to help them become kind, empathetic individuals. Developing these traits at an early age is key, and our expanding community partnerships programme, that we hope to also house in the new facility, is one of the best ways to help pupils understand how to make a difference in the world around them. Beyond the immediate benefit to current pupils, the Masterplan supports our ambition to remain a ’destination school’ that appeals to young men and their families throughout the UK and overseas. The Independent schooling market is highly competitive, and there is constant need to invest in facilities that look incredible, and enable unrivalled teaching and pastoral outcomes. Curb appeal is crucial, and the current entrance to the school neither fittingly represents the historic significance of our institution, nor pays proper homage to the pleasing architecture that can be seen throughout the rest of our estate. Once approval has been recived, the school will transition the Masterplan from concept into reality. External pressures we are all currently feeling the impact of are being carefully considered before we begin with gusto. The school is are absolutely committed to bringing it to life though, and we will continue to keep you up to date with our plans.
Your Legacy Leaving a legacy is an incredible gesture that safeguards the future of our institution for generations to come, but we understand that deciding how to distribute your estate can be complex. If we can help you consider how to support Bedford without diminishing the bequests you leave to others, please do get in touch. It will be our pleasure to help. Artist's impression of the new facility
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