St Aloysius' College - Gratus Oct 2020

AMDG

GRATUS Head Girl, Scarlett Morris and Head Boy, Humzah Razzaq

Issue 3 Autumn 2020

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT Welcome to Gratus 2020. We are disappointed not to be able to hold our annual Donor Thank You event this year, so I thought it was even more important to keep our Donors informed about some of the good that your support is doing.

I am always inspired when someone chooses to give to the College, and in the last few difficult months it has been heartening to know that so many of you have shown your support for others through your gifts.

Seven years on since the Development Office started, we have re-connected with over 7,500 former pupils, held 76 events and reunions with over 2,500 guests, and received gifts from our Aloysian Community, Trusts & Foundations and friends of the College for a variety of projects.

From capital items such as the joint project with St Aloysius’ Church for the Taylor Family Organ in 2014-15, to the appeal for the Sports Hall in 201516 and our most important priority: the on-going support for Bursaries to transform the lives of young people, there is never a dull moment!

In 2018-19, we held a series of meetings with members of the Aloysian Community from Glasgow, London and the USA to gain their views on our plans for the future of the College, particularly in terms of fundraising priorities. This has helped shape our direction and the Aloysian Annual Appeal grew from there and began in November 2019.

In spite of a healthy start to the Appeal, due to the Coronavirus pandemic we paused fundraising for a short period, resulting in a reduction in philanthropic income for 2019-20.

However, the digital request for support in May for “The Hardship Fund”, saw an increase of 14% in the number of donors from last year.

GIFTS TO THE COLLEGE 2013-2020 Annual Fund

Bursaries

2015-2016

2016-2017

Building

Unrestricted

Organ

350000

262500

175000

87500

0 2013-2014

2

2014-2015

2017-2018

2018-2019

2019-2020

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OUR DONORS 2013-2020 194

200

189 165

154 142

150 105

100

50 0

3 2013-2014

2014-2015

2015-2016

2016-2017

2017-2018

2018-2019

2019-2020

AREAS OF SUPPORT 2019

WHERE OUR DONORS ARE FROM

Proving my theory that “people give to people”, giving to Bursaries continues to be our biggest area of support.

The largest proportion of the Aloysian Community lives in Scotland, but our international Donors haven’t forgotten the College.

65%

25%

BURSARY DONORS

HARDSHIP FUND DONORS

10%

5%

TAKE YOUR SEAT

WHERE THE NEED IS GREATEST

AGE IS NO BARRIER TO GIVING BACK

27

91

63

Age of youngest donor Age of oldest donor Average age of donors

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CANADA 1

ENGLAND 12

FRANCE 1

CHINA 1

USA 3

SCOTLAND 170

CYPRUS 1

TOTAL 189

WHO’S GIVING IN 2019-2020?

Our Old Aloysians are winning when it comes to giving, followed by our current and former parents.

GRANDPARENTS 5%

OAs 50%

FORMER STAFF 2%

FORMER PARENTS 15%

CURRENT STAFF 2%

GOVERNORS 3%

CURRENT PARENTS 20%

TRUST/FOUNDATION 2%

FRIEND 1%

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BURSARIES NEWSFLASH For the first time ever, the Bursaries awarded for the academic year starting 2020-21 were primarily funded by the generosity of our Donors, as follows: • Five ‘Named’ full Senior School Bursaries, Three Bursary Angels, One S6 Bursary and One College-funded Bursary (funded by donations and fee surplus).

• In the Senior School, 8% of pupils are on Bursaries, comprising 27 boys and 16 girls.

27 BOYS

8%

16 GIRLS

PUPILS ON BURSARIES

THE HARDSHIP FUND The Hardship Fund was originally set up in 2019 to ensure that pupils could take part in retreats or curriculum-related trips, if cost was a barrier for parents. However, due to the Coronavirus, some families were experiencing financial difficulties which would affect their ability to afford the fees, so a digital appeal for the Hardship Fund was sent out in May 2020.

Nine pupils are now receiving one-off assistance in 2020/21 as a result of COVID-19.

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WHERE THE NEED IS GREATEST

THE TAKE YOUR SEATS APPEAL

This is our unrestricted fund which allows the Head Master and Bursar to allocate funds to a specific need, which this year has been directed to ‘The Hardship Fund’.

To date 35 seats have been sponsored by Aloysian families.

Unfortunately, the Seating Appeal has taken a ‘back seat’ due to the pandemic and the urgent need for Hardship Fund support, but it will be taking centre stage again very soon!

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REFLECTIONS OF OUR BURSARY SCHOLARS At the end of each academic year, we ask our Bursary pupils, who are supported either by Named Donors or Bursary Angel Donors, to complete an anonymised short questionnaire looking back on their year at College, which we send to their Donor.

Here are how three of our Bursary Scholars replied to some of their questions:

S1 PUPIL WHO JOINED IN AUGUST 2019 How is St Aloysius’ College different from your Primary School, and what are your favourite subjects and why?

“To make the leap from a classroom with 30 other pupils to a mere 15 - 20 is fantastic. It is evident that every pupil has more attention invested in them. Maths and Physics are the peak of my interest; unlike other subjects where you retain facts in your head, these two subjects involve you with constant problem-solving questions.”

S3 PUPIL WHO JOINED IN AUGUST 2018 Which two words on the Jesuit Pupil Profile sum you up best and why?

“I would say the words ‘active’ and ‘grateful’ would define me best. This year I have been active at my Girls Brigade helping with the younger group members as well as writing some articles for the local newspaper. At school I have been more active by engaging in new activities and projects.

“This year has been extraordinary and I am very grateful that under these difficult circumstances my family and friends are all safe and well. I appreciate the opportunity the College has provided me with and I thank God for everything.”

S6 PUPIL WHO JOINED IN AUGUST 2015 What are your hopes for your S6 year?

“I hope to continue to learn well in my studies and get great results. I’m currently doing Advanced Higher Physics, Computing and Maths. I hope this year will give me great opportunities to increase my chances of getting accepted into university to study Aeronautical Engineering. I am going to work hard to achieve this.”

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“I GIVE BECAUSE...”

This year 3 donors have shared why they have chosen to support Bursaries, the Take Your Seats appeal for the College Hall and The Hardship Fund.

Here’s what they said: THE OPPORTUNITY FUND FOR BURSARIES “I give to individual students because I cannot imagine a better way to use my money.

Education is such an essential element of making a success of life. It teaches you to think clearly and opens up so many more choices for you than otherwise. Your old school is a great starting place.”

Neil Carragher (1956) The Carragher Family Bursary Award

TAKE YOUR SEATS APPEAL “I give because, without sounding biased, this school is absolutely and utterly unique in Glasgow. At its core are a set of values that are so important and every young person who passes through the doors of 45 Hill Street, uses these values for the benefit of others.”

“Donations large or small hopefully benefit future generations of young people to wear the Green Blazer with pride.”

Kirsty Wilkie née Macleod (1993) Current Parent

THE HARDSHIP FUND “I give because I remember the impact of my schooling on me and want the same for future generations. The generosity of previous donors allowed the various retreats, trips and other activities that were inseparable parts of my Christian formation: I want to help current pupils have the same opportunities.”

Michael Stark (2007)

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THE JESUIT PUPIL PROFILE

Until it is safe to meet again, on behalf of our Bursary Scholars, our families who have faced challenging financial circumstances this year and to those of you who have helped to kick-start our Seating appeal, a big, but socially-distanced, “thank you!�

Yours sincerely

Caroline Notman, Director of Development & Alumni Relations E: cnotman@staloysius.org W: https://community.staloysius.org/get-involved

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P.S. Charitable giving starts early for our pupils, and they have organised bake sales, held themed colour days and sponsored events to raise £3,981.53 for the following external charities.

•

Jesuit Missions

•

Refuweegee

•

Erskine Appeal

•

Glasgow North East Foodbank

•

Young Minds – Hello Yellow

•

Glasgow Children’s Hospital

•

Breast Cancer Research - Wear It Pink

•

Glasgow Life’s Santa Dash

•

MacMillan Cancer Support

St Aloysius’ College is a company limited by guarantee (SC405951) registered in Scotland.

We are a Jesuit school and a charity (SC042545)