DOING ALL WE CAN, WHEREVER WE ARE: ALUMNI DRIVING CHANGE IN MALAWI
Kingswood’s legacy of service continues well beyond the classroom through alumni like Adrian Raisbeck (KS 1987-92), founder of Mbora, an Agri-FinTech social enterprise in Malawi.
Mbora supports thousands of smallholder farmers by providing sustainable tools and access to markets, education, and essential services. Adrian’s mission is to lift communities out of poverty through scalable, long-term solutions rooted in Wesleyan values.
In 2024, Kingswood raised £30,000 through the Christmas Market and other community-led events, with nearly 100 students, staff, and families volunteering their time. These funds had a direct and life-changing impact. Mbora used the donation to purchase a second motorbike for its outreach team and install two solar irrigation pumpstechnology that enables year-round farming, even outside the rainy season.
The results are transformative. Families once earning around £255 annually are now projected to earn up to £2,600 within 18 months. This means food security, access to education, and a sustainable future.
Adrian recently enjoyed visiting Kingswood and shared his experiences. Together we were able to celebrate the school’s ethos of compassion, innovation, and global citizenship as it continues to ripple across continents, changing lives, one community at a time.
BURSARIES AT KINGSWOOD SCHOOL
Our bursary programme continues to expand access to a life changing education to more students, so that young people are given the opportunity to flourish at Kingswood, regardless of their families financial circumstances.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors (100 last year) we were able to support 57 Senior School students through means tested awards of varying amounts.
Those students have, like all our young people, offered so much in return to the School community, whether as team captains, Prefects, trained Mentors through the Mentoring Plus programme, playing in our Orchestra, and securing fantastic higher education opportunities.
Impact Data:
▶ £195,000 received in donations and Gift Aid in 2024-2025
▶ 100 donors
▶ 57 young people supported through means tested bursaries
▶ 4 received Transformational Bursaries (100% of fees)
MY KINGSWOOD STORY TERENCE B (OK 2024)
When I opened my A Level results, I genuinely thought there had been a mistake. Three A*s. I was in shock. But it was real - and it meant I was going to
medical school. I’d secured a place at the University of Manchester, and I still can’t quite believe it.
None of this would have happened without the bursary that allowed me to attend Kingswood.
It wasn’t just financial support - it was someone believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself.
At Kingswood, I was seen. Teachers took time to understand me, to support me, and to help me grow. I found my voice through leading assemblies on autism and neurodiversity. I became Co-Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. I discovered my passion for medicine through dissection club. I made friends, decorated my study space, and slowly started to believe I could do something great.
But the bursary didn’t just change my educationit changed my life. When my mum became critically ill with sepsis and we were living in temporary accommodation, Kingswood stepped in. They offered meals, emotional support, and even a place to stay. Teachers became mentors. Tutors became lifelines. I wasn’t just a student - I was part of a community that cared.
“You’re not just funding education. You’re changing lives. You changed mine.”
Now, I want to give back. I’ve started mentoring younger students and sharing advice online. I want others to know what’s possible. Because bursaries don’t just help with school fees - they help people like me find confidence, purpose, and a future.
If you’re thinking about donating, please know this: you’re not just funding education. You’re changing lives. You changed mine.
If you would like to support the Kingswood Bursary programme with a gift that can change lives, please contact development@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
FROM WAR TO WELCOME: NIKITA’S STORY OF RESILIENCE AND RENEWAL
In September 2022, Nikita arrived at Kingswood School from war-torn Ukraine as part of the HMC scholarship programme.
Quiet and uncertain, he faced the daunting challenge of adapting to a new country, language, and academic system. Yet, through resilience and the unwavering support of the Kingswood community, he not only found his footing, but flourished.
Living in Middle House and studying A Levels in Maths, Economics and Computer Science, Nikita overcame language barriers and cultural shifts with quiet determination. When international policy changes disrupted his university plans, Kingswood’s Headmaster, Mr Gordon-Brown offered him a gap year role. This act of compassion allowed him to remain in a place where he felt safe and valued.
Nikita used this opportunity to give back. He created a Sunday activity for local Ukrainian families, offering parents respite while he and fellow students entertained their children. He also joined the Kingswood Association and Development Department, assisted in classrooms and helped manage alumni data. Affectionately known as “Mr Nikita” by students, he became a respected and admired figure in the School.
Now preparing to study in Riga, Nikita leaves Kingswood not just as a bursary recipient, but as a role model. His story is a testament to the power of opportunity, kindness, and the enduring impact of a supportive school community.
Impact Data:
▶ 1 full bursary awarded
▶ 10+ student-led community events
▶ 10+ Ukrainian families supported
▶ 1 gap year role offered to ensure ongoing support after Year 13
“The name of Kingswood School entered my life unexpectedly… but it quickly became more than just an academic foundation; it became a place where, through progress, mistakes, and the philosophy of Wesley, I discovered who I am and what I aspire to become.”
Nikita
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Kingswood Senior School Lansdown Road • Bath • BA1 5RG • UK
