Continuing Support

One former bursary recipient who credits his bursary place with providing him with a foundation success is Joel Burgess, who left the Boys’ Division after receiving his GCSE results this summer. Joel signed scholarship forms with Bolton Wanderers FC earlier this year, and made his first team debut this July, when he came on as a substitute in a cup match against Chorley FC. Sadly, Joel’s scholarship requires him to complete a BTEC alongside his A Levels, meaning he was unable to continue his studies into the Boys’ Division’s Sixth Form. His mother, Lesley Burgess, reflects: “Joel is extremely fortunate to have received such an outstanding education and we are very grateful to the School for their support over the past five years. Joel is a determined young man and playing for Wanderers has always been his dream. He has a strong foundation now on which he can build, especially if he should not be successful in pursuing his dream of becoming a professional footballer. I would like to thank the School so much for providing the opportunity for him to experience five years of an outstanding, all-encompassing, education.” In order to demonstrate the transformational impact of their donations, the School is always delighted to be able to link significant supporters of the Bursary Fund to specific bursary recipients. Throughout his time in the Boys’ Division, Joel was linked with Taylor & Taylor Financial Planning, a family-run business owned by Old Boy father and son, Chris Taylor (Class of 1973) and Ross Taylor (Class of 2004). Chris and Ross have been supporters of the Bursary Fund since 2015, and have been delighted to follow Joel’s progress during his time in the Boys’ Division. They share the School’s pride in all that Joel has achieved, and hope to be able to watch him play for Wanderers in the near future. Another such supporter is Old Boy Adam Crook (Class of 1992), who, after his promotion to the partnership of Goldman Sachs, the American investment banking firm, earlier this year, arranged a significant donation to the Bursary Fund through the Goldman Sachs (GS) Gives Fund to establish four new Sixth Form bursaries in the Boys’ Division. The first Adam Crook/GS Gives Bursary pupil joined the Boys’ Division in September this year, with further recipients set to join in the following three academic years. Adam had strong personal reasons for wanting to make the

donation, reflecting thus: “Looking back at my own family history, it’s only really in the last couple of generations that there has been genuine potential for social mobility, through access to education and a broader more meritocratic society. Education is transformational and for my grandparents, growing up in Bolton, today’s opportunities were just not available. Every child should have the opportunity to fulfil their academic potential and that shouldn’t just be a function of where you grow up or whether your parents can afford it. Joel has signed with “I do think the School offers something unique and truly Bolton Wanderers opens children’s eyes to opportunities in the community and beyond. I would love to be able to support some of those children who can’t take advantage of these opportunities because of family circumstances. “Being at a US firm, the ethos of donating to a former school or college is quite engrained. It made sense to me, along with some other things I am doing with Veterans’ charities, to give something back to my old school and community. The School’s Bursary Scheme does an excellent job of broadening access to education across the community and I would encourage any former pupil, who finds him- or herself in a position where they are able to help, to consider contributing to this effort.” The School remains intent upon its long-term ambition to deliver needs-blind access to the transformational education it offers, and is indebted to its donors, like Adam, Chris and Ross, who have continued to offer their generous support to the Bursary Fund despite the challenges of the past eighteen months. If you remember your time at the School fondly, and would like to ensure future generations of Boltonians receive the same opportunities your education offered to you, then please do consider pledging your own support to the Bursary Fund. Whether you choose to make a one-off gift, set up a regular donation or remember the School in your will, your generosity will make a real difference to the School’s ability to offer financial support to future generations of bright, talented young people, who will in their turn go out into their communities and make a difference for good. To discuss in more detail how you might choose to support the Bursary Fund, please contact Laura Firth, Director of Development and Alumni Relations, by calling 01204 434718 or by emailing development@boltonschool.org.

Adam was inspired to give something back to his former School