Christ’s Hospital Appeal

Christ’s Hospital School Appeal

In 2007 the Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers, at the instigation of Past Master Tom Hoffman, launched an appeal to raise funds to educate a child from a disadvantaged background at Christ’s Hospital School in Horsham. The appeal was so successful that the Company has been able to cover the costs of educating two children (known as presentees). Our first presentee was Onyinye Udokporo, who was at school from 2009 until 2016 and the second is Kiyan Rahmann.

After completing seven years at Christ’s Hospital Onyinye went on to King’s College London and now, at the age of 23, runs her own successful online tutoring educational platform with lessons taught by qualified tutors. Onyinye became an Apprentice of the Company in 2016 and was admitted as a Freeman in September 2021. She has been a wonderful ambassador for the Company, both in the Livery movement and in the City, where she has become widely known (she made a speech at Common Hall in June 2019 at the invitation of the current Lord Mayor), and also in her wider activities. Kiyan has just begun his third year and is doing very well at the school.

The time has now come for the Company to plan ahead and raise funds to support a third presentee at the School. I therefore announced at the Installation Lunch an Appeal to raise £36,600 to cover the cost of educating another child at Christ’s Hospital School. The Court has agreed that the Company will match fund donations from members to a value of £18,000. I hope that every member of the Company will make a donation, large or small, to support the appeal. Members of the Court have already pledged over £8000 in support of the appeal so we are well on our way to achieving the target.

Why do this? Our support for Onyinye and the opportunity which a Christ’s Hospital School education has given her has been genuinely life changing. We have similar hopes for Kiyan. Collectively we have done something which would be beyond most of us individually. It is a great example of one of our core objectives – to help others through charitable giving. Quite simply, it is the Tylers and Bricklayers at our best. We can and should be proud of our support for Onyinye and what she has achieved.

Deputy Master Lesley Day has kindly agreed to lead an Appeal Committee. Lesley and I will be writing to you shortly to explain how you can make a donation in support of the Appeal.

Simon Martin

Master

Freeman Onyinye Udokporo writes:

“My parents were keen for me to attend Christ’s Hospital after attending an open day and seeing the vast amount of opportunity on offer for me in a boarding school environment. I was able to focus on academia as well as embrace the sporting and extra-curricular activities on offer. Going to a boarding school in West Sussex gave me the chance to broaden my horizons and exposed me to a level of aspiration that was not available to me in my hometown of Edmonton, North London.

The education at Christ’s Hospital is first class and not only did I excel in my academic subjects, but I was also formally diagnosed with dyslexia whilst I was there. This made a world of difference to my academic performance and to everyone’s surprise, English Literature ended up being my best and favourite subject. I went on to complete a BA(Hons) in Religion, Politics and Society and a Masters in Education, Policy and Society by the age of 22 at King’s College London where I was also the first-ever Student of the Year.

I am very grateful to the Company for funding my place at Christ’s Hospital. Going to CH was truly a life changing opportunity that has enabled me to have a successful career at a young age. I credit a lot of my success to the formative years spent in a boarding environment.”