Here's whats been happening with our supported charities.
2024
OYT South
The first voyage of our 2024 season was with students from The Petersfield School, who faced a challenging weather forecast and still managed to have a great time! They started with basic boat familiarisation with lines and winches. Then skipper Gotch took them to sea. They went to Cowes on the first night, in the dark, and then managed a wet, cold sail in light winds the next day, heading in to the western Solent for lots of tacking and manoeuvres. They got involved with navigation, people took turns on the helm and we had a man overboard recovery drill! They ended the day with another night passage, back into Ocean Village – where sadly they remained for the rest of the voyage, due to strong winds and horizontal rain! However, they accepted this without complaint and enjoyed some activity-packed days on board – making homemade pizza, working through the RYA Start Yachting syllabus, trying some of the experiments in our environmental toolkit, playing lots of games, and celebrating watchleader Sara’s birthday with a party! 12 people achieved RYA Start Yachting certificates (two had the qualification already) and they sailed 46 miles.
We use an exercise called Outcomes Wheels, developed with Children in Need and the Prince’s Trust, to measure how crew members feel about themselves at the start of a voyage and again at the end, giving themselves marks out of 6 in different areas. We encourage the school to discuss these scores with students where appropriate, and use them as a basis for follow-up work - especially where there have been big changes or where anything stands out. On this voyage, F’s scores are strikingly lower than others at both start and end, while N and O (who gave herself an exceptionally low set of opening scores) both showed huge improvements.
We use an exercise called Outcomes Wheels, developed with Children in Need and the Prince’s Trust, to measure how crew members feel about themselves at the start of a voyage and again at the end, giving themselves marks out of 6 in different areas. We encourage the school to discuss these scores with students where appropriate, and use them as a basis for follow-up work - especially where there have been big changes or where anything stands out. On this voyage, F’s scores are strikingly lower than others at both start and end, while N and O (who gave herself an exceptionally low set of opening scores) both showed huge improvements.
Snow Camp on BBC Ski Sunday
Thank you to Tim Warwood, Ed Leigh, Chemmy Alcott and BBC2 Ski Sunday!! What an opportunity to be featured for the 3rd time, and what a cohort of young people we’ve been lucky enough to work with over the past few years. To find out more about Snow Camp and get involved, visit snow-camp.org.uk
Watch the video here:
Watch the video here:
Sussex Cricket Foundation
The Sussex Cricket Foundation is delighted to announce that it has extended its partnership with Ned’s Fund for a further two years.
The two organisations initially teamed up back in March 2023 to provide financial support to Diyon De Silva, a young promising local cricketer who has excelled in the Sussex Cricket Pathway. Ned's Fund is devoted to supporting charities which give young people a chance to do something entirely new; to discover more about themselves and set a clear way of seeing their true potential.
Having previously contributed £2,400 to the Sussex Cricket Foundation’s Champions Fund in March 2023, Ned’s Fund has now committed to a further £4,800, which will once again go to supporting Diyon as he continues to progress through the Sussex Cricket Pathway. The Champion’s Fund was created to support talented young cricketers in our boys, girls and disability cricket pathways, to help break down financial barriers associated to the game and help talented players fulfil their potential.
Since its launch back in 2021, the Champion’s Fund has provided £11,000 of financial support to 16 players in the Pathway.
To find out what a difference the Champion’s Fund has made to Diyon, we spoke to him after training at the Indoor School at The 1st Central County Ground. You can view the interview below.
The two organisations initially teamed up back in March 2023 to provide financial support to Diyon De Silva, a young promising local cricketer who has excelled in the Sussex Cricket Pathway. Ned's Fund is devoted to supporting charities which give young people a chance to do something entirely new; to discover more about themselves and set a clear way of seeing their true potential.
Having previously contributed £2,400 to the Sussex Cricket Foundation’s Champions Fund in March 2023, Ned’s Fund has now committed to a further £4,800, which will once again go to supporting Diyon as he continues to progress through the Sussex Cricket Pathway. The Champion’s Fund was created to support talented young cricketers in our boys, girls and disability cricket pathways, to help break down financial barriers associated to the game and help talented players fulfil their potential.
Since its launch back in 2021, the Champion’s Fund has provided £11,000 of financial support to 16 players in the Pathway.
To find out what a difference the Champion’s Fund has made to Diyon, we spoke to him after training at the Indoor School at The 1st Central County Ground. You can view the interview below.
Gary Wallis-Tayler, Community Cricket Director, said: “I am delighted that we have extended our partnership with Ned’s Fund, to help support Diyon’s development as a cricketer. Diyon continues to grow as a cricketer and with support from Ned’s Fund, we hope it helps fulfil his ambitions in the game.”
Jo Marsden, Founder of Ned’s Fund, added: “It was really good to see Diyon just loving his cricket and seeing how our support has developed him as a player. It's a real pleasure to be involved in the partnership with the Sussex Cricket Foundation and I very much look forward to watching Diyon play this summer.”
If anyone is interested in learning more about our Champions Fund or wishes to donate to the fund, please contact Community Cricket Director, Gary Wallis-Tayler via [email protected]
Jo Marsden, Founder of Ned’s Fund, added: “It was really good to see Diyon just loving his cricket and seeing how our support has developed him as a player. It's a real pleasure to be involved in the partnership with the Sussex Cricket Foundation and I very much look forward to watching Diyon play this summer.”
If anyone is interested in learning more about our Champions Fund or wishes to donate to the fund, please contact Community Cricket Director, Gary Wallis-Tayler via [email protected]
Snow Camp
In 2022, we gave a grant to Snow Camp so they could provide an apprenticeship to a young man named Kai. He's a report from their North West Programme Manager on Kai's Apprenticeship:
"Kai is doing incredibly well at the moment and we have seen him come on leaps and bounds since the beginning of his apprenticeship. Confidence was always something that Kai has struggled with but he is pushing himself out of the comfort zone more and more each day. It is a pleasure to be apart of and watch his progress. He has just come back from 2 trips away – Italy with ISSC Ski championships where he was learning to Ski Race & actually came away with a 4th spot prize which he was over the moon with. And then Val D’sere with Work a Season where he has been inspired to work towards being ready to do a season – his dream is to become a chalet host!"
He has been working hard at his NVQ Community Activator Course and just completed a session at his placement at Inspire Youth Zone where the feedback from his session from his placement manager was:
“Its amazing how much he has come on in confidence. Kai a couple of months ago was really nervous speaking to new people but to see him deliver a session in front of a group of young people just showed how much he has grown in confidence. He was able to speak in front of everyone and explain the rules of the game clearly so that they could understand. The young people loved his version of dodgeball … might have to use this one in the future! Loved it!’"
"Kai is doing incredibly well at the moment and we have seen him come on leaps and bounds since the beginning of his apprenticeship. Confidence was always something that Kai has struggled with but he is pushing himself out of the comfort zone more and more each day. It is a pleasure to be apart of and watch his progress. He has just come back from 2 trips away – Italy with ISSC Ski championships where he was learning to Ski Race & actually came away with a 4th spot prize which he was over the moon with. And then Val D’sere with Work a Season where he has been inspired to work towards being ready to do a season – his dream is to become a chalet host!"
He has been working hard at his NVQ Community Activator Course and just completed a session at his placement at Inspire Youth Zone where the feedback from his session from his placement manager was:
“Its amazing how much he has come on in confidence. Kai a couple of months ago was really nervous speaking to new people but to see him deliver a session in front of a group of young people just showed how much he has grown in confidence. He was able to speak in front of everyone and explain the rules of the game clearly so that they could understand. The young people loved his version of dodgeball … might have to use this one in the future! Loved it!’"
News from Ned's Fund
The start of a New Year is a very good time to reflect on past achievements and to look forward to more. It is still hard to believe that Ned’s Fund has been in existence for five years and that in that time, thanks to the enormous generosity of all our supporters, we have raised nearly £100,000 in memory of Ned. Together with my fellow founders I am overwhelmed by this and bursting with gratitude to everyone who has sponsored or taken part in an event.
Because Ned’s Fund was set up on an entirely voluntary basis there are very few expenses and we are fast approaching an even more significant milestone: by the end of 2024 we will have donated more than £100,000 to our carefully-chosen charities: Jamie’s Farm, Mousetrap Theatre Productions, Ocean Youth Trust South, Snow Camp, Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation and Sussex Cricket Foundation.
On many occasions I have been lucky enough to see at first hand the inspiring ways in which these excellent people work with young adults who, just like Ned, have not yet found out what really makes them who they are. All those who have taken part in the programmes we have supported, whether they know it or not, are a fantastic living memorial to Ned himself and represent so much hope for the future.
As we start this New Year we have decided to concentrate for the time being on just three of our causes, Ocean Youth Trust (OYT), South, Snow Camp and Sussex Cricket Foundation, and this means we can simplify the way we operate by raising funds that go to our chosen charities. Fundraising events organised by Ned’s Fund will continue to be our best source of income, but it will also be possible to donate through Ned’s Fund directly to each charity via JustGiving.
If you want to get in touch or suggest an event or a fundraising idea please don’t hesitate to write to [email protected] or via Facebook, X or Instagram or the ‘contact’ form on the website.
Jo Marsden
Because Ned’s Fund was set up on an entirely voluntary basis there are very few expenses and we are fast approaching an even more significant milestone: by the end of 2024 we will have donated more than £100,000 to our carefully-chosen charities: Jamie’s Farm, Mousetrap Theatre Productions, Ocean Youth Trust South, Snow Camp, Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation and Sussex Cricket Foundation.
On many occasions I have been lucky enough to see at first hand the inspiring ways in which these excellent people work with young adults who, just like Ned, have not yet found out what really makes them who they are. All those who have taken part in the programmes we have supported, whether they know it or not, are a fantastic living memorial to Ned himself and represent so much hope for the future.
As we start this New Year we have decided to concentrate for the time being on just three of our causes, Ocean Youth Trust (OYT), South, Snow Camp and Sussex Cricket Foundation, and this means we can simplify the way we operate by raising funds that go to our chosen charities. Fundraising events organised by Ned’s Fund will continue to be our best source of income, but it will also be possible to donate through Ned’s Fund directly to each charity via JustGiving.
If you want to get in touch or suggest an event or a fundraising idea please don’t hesitate to write to [email protected] or via Facebook, X or Instagram or the ‘contact’ form on the website.
Jo Marsden
2023
Sussex Cricket Foundation
Diyon's school team winning the championship for state schools.
Sussex Cricket Foundation
Ned's Fund is delighted to announce that it has teamed up with The Sussex Cricket Foundation to provide support for Udage Diyon De Silva, a young promising cricketer who has excelled on the Sussex Cricket Pathway and in County Age Group cricket.
The Sussex Cricket Foundation set up its Champions Fund in 2021, to help financially support talented players within our boys & girls’ pathway to fulfil their potential. The fund helps support parents with programme, equipment, and travel costs to remove barriers from players accessing the game.
To date through funds raised by the Foundation and support from partners such as Rathbones, the fund has supported 11 players totalling £9,000. We continue to look for additional funding for our Champions Fund and would encourage anyone interested in supporting to contact Gary Wallis-Tayler, Community Cricket Director.
Udage Diyon De Silva lives in Crawley, schools at Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA) and plays club cricket locally for Crawley Eagles Cricket Club. Gary Wallis-Tayler, Community Cricket Director, said:
“I am thrilled to be working in partnership with Ned’s Fund to help financially support players through our Champions Fund. The fund was created to help remove financial barriers and to support talented players within our boys, girls or disability cricket pathways. Diyon has been identified by our pathway coaching team as an extremely talented player with potential to progress through the county age group programme, hopefully this financial support will go some way to helping Diyon to fulfil those ambitions.”
Diyon’s parents have expressed their thanks:
“We are truly grateful for the support that Ned’s Fund is providing for Diyon. He really enjoys his involvement on the Sussex Pathway and in the specialist, development groups that he’s been selected for. This will allow us to provide more opportunity for Diyon to play the game that he loves so much”.
Jo Marsden, founder of Neds Fund added:
“I’m thrilled to be working in partnership with the Sussex Cricket Foundation to support their Champions Fund. It was such a pleasure to meet Diyon with his parents and to witness Diyon’s obvious natural talent. I’m really looking forward to an exciting year for Diyon and Ned’s Fund. Ned’s Fund exists to help young people find their path through life, whatever that may be. Cricket, where individual talent and teamwork are equally important, provides the perfect setting for personal development as well as sporting excellence.”
The Sussex Cricket Foundation set up its Champions Fund in 2021, to help financially support talented players within our boys & girls’ pathway to fulfil their potential. The fund helps support parents with programme, equipment, and travel costs to remove barriers from players accessing the game.
To date through funds raised by the Foundation and support from partners such as Rathbones, the fund has supported 11 players totalling £9,000. We continue to look for additional funding for our Champions Fund and would encourage anyone interested in supporting to contact Gary Wallis-Tayler, Community Cricket Director.
Udage Diyon De Silva lives in Crawley, schools at Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA) and plays club cricket locally for Crawley Eagles Cricket Club. Gary Wallis-Tayler, Community Cricket Director, said:
“I am thrilled to be working in partnership with Ned’s Fund to help financially support players through our Champions Fund. The fund was created to help remove financial barriers and to support talented players within our boys, girls or disability cricket pathways. Diyon has been identified by our pathway coaching team as an extremely talented player with potential to progress through the county age group programme, hopefully this financial support will go some way to helping Diyon to fulfil those ambitions.”
Diyon’s parents have expressed their thanks:
“We are truly grateful for the support that Ned’s Fund is providing for Diyon. He really enjoys his involvement on the Sussex Pathway and in the specialist, development groups that he’s been selected for. This will allow us to provide more opportunity for Diyon to play the game that he loves so much”.
Jo Marsden, founder of Neds Fund added:
“I’m thrilled to be working in partnership with the Sussex Cricket Foundation to support their Champions Fund. It was such a pleasure to meet Diyon with his parents and to witness Diyon’s obvious natural talent. I’m really looking forward to an exciting year for Diyon and Ned’s Fund. Ned’s Fund exists to help young people find their path through life, whatever that may be. Cricket, where individual talent and teamwork are equally important, provides the perfect setting for personal development as well as sporting excellence.”
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2022
Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation
Our programme with Bohunt Education Trust and ACCF is over half way through this year. It had been another hugely successful programme and has made a positive difference to a large number of young people. Here are some quotes from some of the participants:
“I loved all the days at Arundel, but my favourite activity was the cricket which I was not expecting because I had never played it before. It was really nice to go on a school trip which we haven’t done much of this year. Coming back to school I felt more confident and happy and it made me realise trying new things can be a good thing. The only thing I would change is the weather but that not you’re fault.”
“Thank you for taking me on the trip. I enjoyed all the sessions. The team building was fun though I didn’t like being blindfolded. I loved seeing the castle as well I’d like to live there. It felt special being chosen for the trip and I have made some new friends which is nice. I hope I can use the teamwork skills I have learnt to be a better football player.” (This student had not left Portsmouth before the trip)
“My name is Nathan and I recently went to 3 of your Arundel cricket sessions. I really enjoyed doing the trip with my friends, learning about cricket, and some mental health activities. One of my favourite parts of it was probably when we did the quick cricket and proper cricket games. A highlight was on the last day when we did catching, bowling and batting just in groups of 4 or 5. I also enjoyed the blindfolded trail session in the Forest which was really fun, although I hit some trees! It made my senses work overtime to try and think and feel where I was. I think that this was a great experience that helped with my confidence and also building up my friend Olly's courage. It helped him to do something he wouldn’t usually do and he actually enjoyed it. Overall I think it was a great experience and totally worth it for anyone that wants to give it a shot! I want to say thank you to all the staff for helping me to do this amazing experience."
"Hello my name is Alexander and I am writing about the 3 Arundel cricket days that we went to quite recently. I especially enjoyed how we went with our friends that we know from school. One of the best activities was probably the blindfold one, it confused me for quite a while since I struggled to find the correct path along the sets of rope that were hanged around the forest, but I got there eventually. Apart from this activity, I also thought the cricket and the cricket training was decent, we tried our best to win against other schools in lots of different games! To conclude, I wanted to add how helpful the mindfulness session was, it let go of my worries and some of the stresses I might have had, and understand why it is important to look after my mental health. I would say I feel more confident and happy to talk to others since this trip. Finally I would like to say a big thanks to all the staff who participated in this trip, it probably was very tiring for them!"
"My review of the experience was good because it kept me on my feet and allowed me to get to know some new people and kind of take my mind of school and onto learning more about my well-being, teamwork and cricket."
“I loved all the days at Arundel, but my favourite activity was the cricket which I was not expecting because I had never played it before. It was really nice to go on a school trip which we haven’t done much of this year. Coming back to school I felt more confident and happy and it made me realise trying new things can be a good thing. The only thing I would change is the weather but that not you’re fault.”
“Thank you for taking me on the trip. I enjoyed all the sessions. The team building was fun though I didn’t like being blindfolded. I loved seeing the castle as well I’d like to live there. It felt special being chosen for the trip and I have made some new friends which is nice. I hope I can use the teamwork skills I have learnt to be a better football player.” (This student had not left Portsmouth before the trip)
“My name is Nathan and I recently went to 3 of your Arundel cricket sessions. I really enjoyed doing the trip with my friends, learning about cricket, and some mental health activities. One of my favourite parts of it was probably when we did the quick cricket and proper cricket games. A highlight was on the last day when we did catching, bowling and batting just in groups of 4 or 5. I also enjoyed the blindfolded trail session in the Forest which was really fun, although I hit some trees! It made my senses work overtime to try and think and feel where I was. I think that this was a great experience that helped with my confidence and also building up my friend Olly's courage. It helped him to do something he wouldn’t usually do and he actually enjoyed it. Overall I think it was a great experience and totally worth it for anyone that wants to give it a shot! I want to say thank you to all the staff for helping me to do this amazing experience."
"Hello my name is Alexander and I am writing about the 3 Arundel cricket days that we went to quite recently. I especially enjoyed how we went with our friends that we know from school. One of the best activities was probably the blindfold one, it confused me for quite a while since I struggled to find the correct path along the sets of rope that were hanged around the forest, but I got there eventually. Apart from this activity, I also thought the cricket and the cricket training was decent, we tried our best to win against other schools in lots of different games! To conclude, I wanted to add how helpful the mindfulness session was, it let go of my worries and some of the stresses I might have had, and understand why it is important to look after my mental health. I would say I feel more confident and happy to talk to others since this trip. Finally I would like to say a big thanks to all the staff who participated in this trip, it probably was very tiring for them!"
"My review of the experience was good because it kept me on my feet and allowed me to get to know some new people and kind of take my mind of school and onto learning more about my well-being, teamwork and cricket."
Sailing day with OYT
In September Ned's Fund founder Jo has a fabulous day sailing off the coast of Southampton on board 'Prolific'. The day included some of the sponsors, donors and friends that support OTY South and help make it possible for this amazing charity to give personal development opportunities to young people.
In September Ned's Fund founder Jo has a fabulous day sailing off the coast of Southampton on board 'Prolific'. The day included some of the sponsors, donors and friends that support OTY South and help make it possible for this amazing charity to give personal development opportunities to young people.
Noel McDermott’s Well-Being show
You can catch up with Jo on Noel McDermott’s Well-Being, show first broadcast on YouTube on Wednesday 26th January.
Noel McDermott is a pioneering health and social care professional with over 30 years industry experience. His mental health companies successfully balance clinical integrity and business efficiency.
You can catch up with Jo on Noel McDermott’s Well-Being, show first broadcast on YouTube on Wednesday 26th January.
Noel McDermott is a pioneering health and social care professional with over 30 years industry experience. His mental health companies successfully balance clinical integrity and business efficiency.
News from Ned's Fund
In February this year, we made a grant to Snow Camp. This has enabled them to provide bursaries to two young people, so they can start their journey towards becoming qualified snowboard instructors. We look forward to reporting on how they are progressing later in the year.
We have agreed to make a grant to OYT for a programme they have set up with the Vyne school in September and are liaising with ACCF, Mousetrap and Jamie's Farm to help fund projects they are working on. Your donations really are making a difference!
We have agreed to make a grant to OYT for a programme they have set up with the Vyne school in September and are liaising with ACCF, Mousetrap and Jamie's Farm to help fund projects they are working on. Your donations really are making a difference!
2021
2021 has seen life slowly returning back to normal and the charities we support have been able to get back to doing what they do best: helping children to do something they might not otherwise have the chance to do. Thanks to your generous fundraising efforts and donations, we made our second grant to Jamie’s Farm the end of the year, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, your donations resulted in Ned's Fund giving grants to three of the charities we support, with two more scheduled by the end of the year/early 2022. You can read about how your money has been used and the impact your generosity is having below.
This year, your donations resulted in Ned's Fund giving grants to three of the charities we support, with two more scheduled by the end of the year/early 2022. You can read about how your money has been used and the impact your generosity is having below.
“Jamie's Farm is hugely grateful to Ned's Fund for helping to make it possible for two groups of young people from a local school to visit our Lewes Farm. Exacerbated by the pandemic, many were struggling with their mental wellbeing and the opportunity for them to get involved in life on one of our working farms for a week was transformational.”
Jamie’s Farm
Jamie’s Farm
“Ocean Youth Trust South works in partnership with schools and youth groups to support the wellbeing of young people and help them develop the skills they need to succeed in life. Ned’s Fund has enabled us to build a partnership with the Vyne School in Basingstoke which does brilliant work to support children who need a bit of extra help if they are going to get the most out of their time at school: the ones who are struggling, who feel they don’t fit in, the ones at risk of being overlooked or neglected, the square pegs who aren’t thriving in round holes. Picking these students for a sailing trip not only builds their self-esteem, confidence, communication and teamworking skills: it also sends a powerful message that the school has noticed them, cares about them, believes in them and wants to help them do well. Participation in a voyage early in their school career often kickstarts a lasting change which sees these students going on to complete their education successfully. Without Ned’s Fund, the Vyne School would not be able to afford to send students sailing with Ocean Youth Trust South.”
OYT
OYT
“Thanks to the grant from Ned’s Fund, over 200 young people have benefitted from our outdoors education programme. Coming from the group of Bohunt schools, all children selected were either struggling with mainstream education or facing real challenges in life in general. Further to their programme with us, which involved cricket, bushcraft and visits to the Castle, their confidence has been boosted, and they have developed a range of new skills, all of which can help get them back on track in education or their life in general.”
ACCF
ACCF
“Snow-Camp are proud to be supported by Ned’s Fund. We are a charity who provide life changing programmes to some of society’s most vulnerable youth. Through snowsports we engage young people, teach them life-skills, help them to work towards new qualifications and provide mental health support. We know through our relationship with Jo, just how much this connects to the mission of Ned’s Fund.
Ned’s Fund have generously provided some of our most challenging young people with bursary places, enabling them to go for complete beginners to qualified snowsports instructors, opening up a whole new world opportunities and experiences. Thanks to Ned’s Fund these young people now have a positive future in front of them. Thank you.”
Snow-Camp
Ned’s Fund have generously provided some of our most challenging young people with bursary places, enabling them to go for complete beginners to qualified snowsports instructors, opening up a whole new world opportunities and experiences. Thanks to Ned’s Fund these young people now have a positive future in front of them. Thank you.”
Snow-Camp
“The support from Ned’s fund helped us to run our musical theatre project Change Your Tune with Gateway Academy, a primary school in a deprived ward of Westminster. A lot of the children struggle with communication, confidence and language skills. We sent an artistic team into the school to work with a core group of 90 children on a new musical created especially for them, on the theme chosen by the head teacher of equality, tolerance and respect. Giving the children a voice and ownership of the musical was really important so the composer and writer wove their ideas into the script and songs. Working with a director over an intensive week, the children made a recording of the musical as a podcast to be shared with the other 270 pupils in key stage 2, whose teachers then explored the theme creatively with them, using the training and resources we had provided.
Ned’s Fund jointly funded the project with one of our private donors and we are so thankful for this financial support and for Jo’s personal, infectious enthusiasm. She is a rare funder in this respect and one we treasure enormously!"
Mousetrap
Ned’s Fund jointly funded the project with one of our private donors and we are so thankful for this financial support and for Jo’s personal, infectious enthusiasm. She is a rare funder in this respect and one we treasure enormously!"
Mousetrap
Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation
Our programme with Bohunt Education Trust ended with a week of cricketing, bushcraft and wellbeing activities.
We are very proud of this project in which students from across Sussex have taken part in sports and learning experiences to develop their skills, resilience & self-confidence.
Thank you to Bohunt Education Trust, Ned's Fund and the ACCF coaching team for your incredible work and support in delivering this programme.
We are very proud of this project in which students from across Sussex have taken part in sports and learning experiences to develop their skills, resilience & self-confidence.
Thank you to Bohunt Education Trust, Ned's Fund and the ACCF coaching team for your incredible work and support in delivering this programme.
Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation
Students across Bohunt Education Trust had the unique opportunity to attend the famous Arundel Castle Cricket Ground in September, as part of an ambitious research programme, which seeks to improve the sporting, educational, health and social wellbeing of young people through cricket and the outdoors. Students from Priory School in Southsea, Bohunt School Worthing and Bohunt Horsham received coaching from former professional cricketer, Lewis Hatchett, as well as participating in outdoor learning through ‘bush craft’ activities, listening to talks, and having a walking tour around the beautiful grounds covering the outfield, castle gardens and woodlands.
The creative and engaging array of activities available were designed to help boost the students’ mental and physical health, as well as developing skills in resilience and self-confidence which will translate back into the classroom.
The event is part of a trailblazing research initiative launched by Arundel Cricket Club Foundation (ACCF) and the school’s sponsor, Bohunt Education Trust (BET), which has also received significant investment from Ned’s Fund.
The project aims to assess in detail the positive links between cricket and the outdoors, with the improvement of overall wellbeing and academic performance and engagement, as well as helping to tackle anxiety, and challenging behaviours. It will also consider the individual student profiles, and how each individual benefits from the provision.
The research involves quantitative data surveys on school engagement, resilience and wellbeing, as well as focus group interviews with the students and their teachers. The results will be assessed by education research charity, ImpactEd, so that all schools within and beyond BET can learn how best to ensure every child has the opportunities to thrive in school.
The creative and engaging array of activities available were designed to help boost the students’ mental and physical health, as well as developing skills in resilience and self-confidence which will translate back into the classroom.
The event is part of a trailblazing research initiative launched by Arundel Cricket Club Foundation (ACCF) and the school’s sponsor, Bohunt Education Trust (BET), which has also received significant investment from Ned’s Fund.
The project aims to assess in detail the positive links between cricket and the outdoors, with the improvement of overall wellbeing and academic performance and engagement, as well as helping to tackle anxiety, and challenging behaviours. It will also consider the individual student profiles, and how each individual benefits from the provision.
The research involves quantitative data surveys on school engagement, resilience and wellbeing, as well as focus group interviews with the students and their teachers. The results will be assessed by education research charity, ImpactEd, so that all schools within and beyond BET can learn how best to ensure every child has the opportunities to thrive in school.
Ocean Youth Trust South
Ocean Youth Trust has recently taken 9 children from the Vine School in Basingstoke (which has now sent 76 students to sail since 2012) on a residential voyage. The Vine School has a great track record of picking students who would never normally have a chance to do anything like this, using the voyage as an intervention for students aged under 14 who are at risk of not realising their full potential in their time at school. School staff then work with the students to build on the voyage experience so that it has a positive impact through to their GCSE year and beyond.
Sometimes this involves using the voyage to achieve a practical outcome – for example, teaching a student to be less afraid of trying something new. Sometimes it is the fact of being chosen for the voyage which makes the difference: it sends a message to a young person that the school has noticed them, cares about them and believes they are capable of doing better – and after the voyage they get some recognition. This can help a young person to develop a more trusting relationship with school staff, and that in itself can transform the rest of their time at school. In addition, a residential voyage can sometimes reveal things about students that staff may not have seen at school, and this can sometimes create a better understanding of students who might be struggling.
All nine young people earned their RYA Start Yachting qualifications. OYT always like to stress that an RYA certificate is a proper recognised qualification. It shows that they mastered some basic sailing skills; but perhaps even more importantly, earning the certificate also provides evidence of transferrable skills. To complete it, they had to be able to listen, concentrate, work in a team, practise things when they initially struggled, until they were able to get them right, take part in routine tasks such as cooking and cleaning as well as the more exciting jobs, cope with living in an entirely unfamiliar situation, cope with being away from home, undertake tasks which some will have found really challenging, take responsibility when asked, follow safety instructions, and much more. They should be proud of themselves for doing so well.
Sometimes this involves using the voyage to achieve a practical outcome – for example, teaching a student to be less afraid of trying something new. Sometimes it is the fact of being chosen for the voyage which makes the difference: it sends a message to a young person that the school has noticed them, cares about them and believes they are capable of doing better – and after the voyage they get some recognition. This can help a young person to develop a more trusting relationship with school staff, and that in itself can transform the rest of their time at school. In addition, a residential voyage can sometimes reveal things about students that staff may not have seen at school, and this can sometimes create a better understanding of students who might be struggling.
All nine young people earned their RYA Start Yachting qualifications. OYT always like to stress that an RYA certificate is a proper recognised qualification. It shows that they mastered some basic sailing skills; but perhaps even more importantly, earning the certificate also provides evidence of transferrable skills. To complete it, they had to be able to listen, concentrate, work in a team, practise things when they initially struggled, until they were able to get them right, take part in routine tasks such as cooking and cleaning as well as the more exciting jobs, cope with living in an entirely unfamiliar situation, cope with being away from home, undertake tasks which some will have found really challenging, take responsibility when asked, follow safety instructions, and much more. They should be proud of themselves for doing so well.
Mousetrap Theatre Projects
Change Your Tune at Gateway Academy Westminster
Change Your Tune is a year-long artist residency project which is designed to meet the wider social and cultural needs of schools. We work closely with staff and students to explore and establish the project theme, before appointing a team of skilled artists (a Composer, a Writer and a Director) to work within the school to create and stage a brand new musical with pupils.
We’ve just reached the end of a hugely challenging and brilliant year-long project with Gateway Academy Westminster. We are thrilled to have completed the project despite the toughest of circumstances, and that’s with huge thanks to the determination and commitment of the staff and pupils who’ve made it happen.
In an ordinary year the project would have culminated with a live stage performance of the pupils’ musical - however 2020/21 has been no ordinary academic year! Due to ever-changing COVID-19 regulations, we decided to work with pupils to create and record an audio musical instead.
Follow the link below to listen to The Key: an original musical audio story by Year 6 Pupils at Gateway Academy.
Change Your Tune is a year-long artist residency project which is designed to meet the wider social and cultural needs of schools. We work closely with staff and students to explore and establish the project theme, before appointing a team of skilled artists (a Composer, a Writer and a Director) to work within the school to create and stage a brand new musical with pupils.
We’ve just reached the end of a hugely challenging and brilliant year-long project with Gateway Academy Westminster. We are thrilled to have completed the project despite the toughest of circumstances, and that’s with huge thanks to the determination and commitment of the staff and pupils who’ve made it happen.
In an ordinary year the project would have culminated with a live stage performance of the pupils’ musical - however 2020/21 has been no ordinary academic year! Due to ever-changing COVID-19 regulations, we decided to work with pupils to create and record an audio musical instead.
Follow the link below to listen to The Key: an original musical audio story by Year 6 Pupils at Gateway Academy.
Above: Behind-the-scenes photography by Alex Rumford, featuring the pupils and creative team rehearsing and recording The Key
Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation
Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation and Bohunt Education Trust are delighted to launch a new Outdoor Research Programme to Aid Student Success, on May 19th and the 26th 2021.
This is very much a collaboration between ACCF and Bohunt Education Trust, and the project aims to inform how cricket and the outdoors can support students struggling with disadvantage, anxiety, engagement and/or behaviour at secondary school.
Funding for the project has kindly been provided by ACCF and by a grant from Ned's Fund, which exists to support vocational activities for young people who find themselves, lacking purpose in life.
There are 4 other dates planned for September and October with 4 Bohunt schools: Worthing, Priory (Southsea, Portsmouth), Steyning, Horsham. We will continue with some children visiting for one day visits and some for 3 as we are seeking to test the difference in impact so future programmes can maximise the efforts.
The full story is on their website - take a look here:
This is very much a collaboration between ACCF and Bohunt Education Trust, and the project aims to inform how cricket and the outdoors can support students struggling with disadvantage, anxiety, engagement and/or behaviour at secondary school.
Funding for the project has kindly been provided by ACCF and by a grant from Ned's Fund, which exists to support vocational activities for young people who find themselves, lacking purpose in life.
There are 4 other dates planned for September and October with 4 Bohunt schools: Worthing, Priory (Southsea, Portsmouth), Steyning, Horsham. We will continue with some children visiting for one day visits and some for 3 as we are seeking to test the difference in impact so future programmes can maximise the efforts.
The full story is on their website - take a look here:
2020
Jamie's Farm
In 2020, Ned’s Fund awarded a bursary to fund the school costs for two visits from Uckfield College to Jamie’s Farm Lewes. Thanks to your support, we hosted 17 children and 4 support staff during two fantastic five-day visits in November 2020.
Our day-visit programme was launched in June 2020; an adaptation of our core residential model, with the same pupils returning each day for a week. The format has enabled us to continue to bring our immersive programme to children and young people during a time that Covid restrictions prohibited residential visits from mainstream schools. We have been able to fully utilise our outdoor spaces, working with children in Covid-safe environments surrounded by the tranquillity and adventure that the countryside offers. The success of the format has prompted us to retain such approaches when we are able to wholly return to residentials, as of the 17th May 2021.
We hope this report provides an insight into the transformational changes that we have been able to achieve in many young people’s lives during one of the most challenging and traumatic year for many. Our sincere thanks to the Fund for its partnership in making such change possible.
You can read the full report here:
Our day-visit programme was launched in June 2020; an adaptation of our core residential model, with the same pupils returning each day for a week. The format has enabled us to continue to bring our immersive programme to children and young people during a time that Covid restrictions prohibited residential visits from mainstream schools. We have been able to fully utilise our outdoor spaces, working with children in Covid-safe environments surrounded by the tranquillity and adventure that the countryside offers. The success of the format has prompted us to retain such approaches when we are able to wholly return to residentials, as of the 17th May 2021.
We hope this report provides an insight into the transformational changes that we have been able to achieve in many young people’s lives during one of the most challenging and traumatic year for many. Our sincere thanks to the Fund for its partnership in making such change possible.
You can read the full report here:
Ocean Youth Trust
Ned's Fund is supporting a voyage in September 2020 for the Vyne School in Basingstoke which has a long track record of using Ocean Youth Trust South voyages to help turn things around for students who are at risk of under-achieving. The Vyne has sent 67 students on voyages over the last eight years and has been able to watch the impact over the long term. One of their teaching staff says: “These experiences have given life changing skills such as confidence, self-belief, trust and an 'I can' attitude. For some of these students, getting through to Year 11 and final exams was looking bleak, but the experiences enabled them to complete it and achieve."
She tells the story of one boy, the last in a large family, none of whom had completed their education successfully until the youngest was chosen to sail at age 13. The experience helped to integrate him, making him feel recognised and valued in school, building positive friendships and breaking down barriers with school staff. Three years later he left school with a good attendance record and some GCSE passes, to train as a motor mechanic.
She tells the story of one boy, the last in a large family, none of whom had completed their education successfully until the youngest was chosen to sail at age 13. The experience helped to integrate him, making him feel recognised and valued in school, building positive friendships and breaking down barriers with school staff. Three years later he left school with a good attendance record and some GCSE passes, to train as a motor mechanic.
Mousetrap Theatre Projects
Mousetrap Theatre Projects is delighted to be supported by Ned’s Fund, for its unique theatre education project, Change Your Tune. Working in a partnership with St Augustine’s School (Westminster), this project is designed to meet the wider social and cultural needs of the school and to explore a specific issue or theme within the ‘Schools Improvement Plan’.
Change Your Tune was piloted in spring 2019 at St Edward's Academy (Romford), where the focus was to develop the resilience of students at Key Stage 3, which they did via the creation of their very own 30-minute musical.
Together with a professional playwright and musical director, the students co-created "Where Are We Going?", a spectacular mini-musical exploring the pressures on young people and their anxieties about school, social media and the future. It was an incredible and powerful piece of work, and a hit with teachers, students and their families.
"Since Change Your Tune I am able to put myself forward to do things and not be afraid of the judgement that might follow." Student participant
"We were shocked, somewhat speechless, when we saw the show ... my daughter's self-confidence shone brightly throughout the performance." Parent
One of the outcomes of this student-created musical was the song, ‘Give Me Strength’, which became the school’s anthem. This past summer, Mousetrap re-recorded this song with original St Edwards’ cast members, young people participating in Mousetrap programmes plus three of the Young Simbas from the West End production of The Lion King (who won a Mousetrap Award for ‘Big Little Stars’). This song, with its message of hope and resilience, seemed more relevant than ever at this time. To watch the video of ‘Give Me Strength’, click the button below.
Change Your Tune was piloted in spring 2019 at St Edward's Academy (Romford), where the focus was to develop the resilience of students at Key Stage 3, which they did via the creation of their very own 30-minute musical.
Together with a professional playwright and musical director, the students co-created "Where Are We Going?", a spectacular mini-musical exploring the pressures on young people and their anxieties about school, social media and the future. It was an incredible and powerful piece of work, and a hit with teachers, students and their families.
"Since Change Your Tune I am able to put myself forward to do things and not be afraid of the judgement that might follow." Student participant
"We were shocked, somewhat speechless, when we saw the show ... my daughter's self-confidence shone brightly throughout the performance." Parent
One of the outcomes of this student-created musical was the song, ‘Give Me Strength’, which became the school’s anthem. This past summer, Mousetrap re-recorded this song with original St Edwards’ cast members, young people participating in Mousetrap programmes plus three of the Young Simbas from the West End production of The Lion King (who won a Mousetrap Award for ‘Big Little Stars’). This song, with its message of hope and resilience, seemed more relevant than ever at this time. To watch the video of ‘Give Me Strength’, click the button below.
Change Your Tune is tailored to suit a school’s individual needs with potential themes which might include cultural cohesion, British values, equality & diversity, bullying, online safety, mental health, healthy eating, healthy relationships and road safety.
2019
Snow-Camp
Haroun Al-Goned, age 20, from London joined Snow-Camp through New Horizon’s Youth Centre and he has been homeless for over a year. He regularly moves from one hostel to the next, often sharing rooms with multiple people. He dreams of living in a permanent flat with his own room. Horoun said:
"I find it difficult to keep myself positively occupied, it’s so easy to make bad decisions and to get into trouble when you feel there’s no other option in life. I’ve made mistakes in my life. Last year I was given an electronic tag by the police, which kept me on a strict curfew to steer me away from the trouble on the streets.
Snow-Camp has helped me to make positive steps forward in life. Being on Snow-Camp programmes, out on the snow and in the cold, makes it is easier for me to clear my mind. The weight of my day to day life is lifted and all I need to focus on is my snowboard. The snowboard is my therapy! I feel more mentally, emotionally and physically better with Snow-Camp.
Thank you to the Ned’s Fund for this opportunity. It has really changed my life. I'm so happy that you will be following my journey through Excel, thank you."
In August 2019, Haroun and Kavell joined our two-day First Tracks programmes, taking part in two slope sessions and two life-skills classroom sessions each day. In the life-skills sessions Haroun and Kavell reflected upon the skills they were demonstrating on the slopes –perseverance, commitment, listening, patience and overcoming fear as well as how to respond to challenges, deal with peer pressure and setting goals for the future. At the end of the two-days Haroun and Kavell had made significant progress on the slopes and experienced, for the first time, the feeling of coming down a ski slope. An awards ceremony the programme, with Haroun and Kavell receiving a Snowsport England Snow Life Award along with a medal and certificate.
Having experienced the thrill of snowsports for the first time on First Tracks, Haroun and Kavell moved onto our Graduate Programme in October. With 6 days on the snow, spread over six weekends, the Graduate Programme gave them both the opportunity to take their snowboarding to the next level. Group classroom sessions held before each slope lesson exposed Haroun and Kavell to the wider world of skiing and snowboarding, with talks each week from snowsports industry representatives and Snow-Camp ambassadors including Jamie Barrow and Jenny Jones.
Haroun will begin our Excel Programme in February. It’s a hugely exciting time for Haroun as he will now take part in 10 weeks of advanced snowsports training with assessment by Snowsport England, which includes 20 hours shadowing their instructors during a 9-day residential to Austria with Equity Ski. The programme includes life-skills sessions throughout which will focus on career opportunities, working with young people and the theory of teaching snowsports. Haroun will receive a Snowsport England Instructor qualification and First Aid and Safeguarding certificates.
It is at this point in the Snow-Camp programme journey that the young people become an integral part of the development, delivery and monitoring of Snow-Camp programmes becoming young leaders and ambassadors for the charity. When a young person completes Excel and gains an instructor qualification, they then volunteer by teaching the next cohort of young people on First Tracks the following summer. Not only is this empowering for them, it's inspirational for the new young people who they may already know from their youth club or estate, showing them exactly what can be achieved in one year at Snow-Camp. We look forward to updating you on their progress!
"I find it difficult to keep myself positively occupied, it’s so easy to make bad decisions and to get into trouble when you feel there’s no other option in life. I’ve made mistakes in my life. Last year I was given an electronic tag by the police, which kept me on a strict curfew to steer me away from the trouble on the streets.
Snow-Camp has helped me to make positive steps forward in life. Being on Snow-Camp programmes, out on the snow and in the cold, makes it is easier for me to clear my mind. The weight of my day to day life is lifted and all I need to focus on is my snowboard. The snowboard is my therapy! I feel more mentally, emotionally and physically better with Snow-Camp.
Thank you to the Ned’s Fund for this opportunity. It has really changed my life. I'm so happy that you will be following my journey through Excel, thank you."
In August 2019, Haroun and Kavell joined our two-day First Tracks programmes, taking part in two slope sessions and two life-skills classroom sessions each day. In the life-skills sessions Haroun and Kavell reflected upon the skills they were demonstrating on the slopes –perseverance, commitment, listening, patience and overcoming fear as well as how to respond to challenges, deal with peer pressure and setting goals for the future. At the end of the two-days Haroun and Kavell had made significant progress on the slopes and experienced, for the first time, the feeling of coming down a ski slope. An awards ceremony the programme, with Haroun and Kavell receiving a Snowsport England Snow Life Award along with a medal and certificate.
Having experienced the thrill of snowsports for the first time on First Tracks, Haroun and Kavell moved onto our Graduate Programme in October. With 6 days on the snow, spread over six weekends, the Graduate Programme gave them both the opportunity to take their snowboarding to the next level. Group classroom sessions held before each slope lesson exposed Haroun and Kavell to the wider world of skiing and snowboarding, with talks each week from snowsports industry representatives and Snow-Camp ambassadors including Jamie Barrow and Jenny Jones.
Haroun will begin our Excel Programme in February. It’s a hugely exciting time for Haroun as he will now take part in 10 weeks of advanced snowsports training with assessment by Snowsport England, which includes 20 hours shadowing their instructors during a 9-day residential to Austria with Equity Ski. The programme includes life-skills sessions throughout which will focus on career opportunities, working with young people and the theory of teaching snowsports. Haroun will receive a Snowsport England Instructor qualification and First Aid and Safeguarding certificates.
It is at this point in the Snow-Camp programme journey that the young people become an integral part of the development, delivery and monitoring of Snow-Camp programmes becoming young leaders and ambassadors for the charity. When a young person completes Excel and gains an instructor qualification, they then volunteer by teaching the next cohort of young people on First Tracks the following summer. Not only is this empowering for them, it's inspirational for the new young people who they may already know from their youth club or estate, showing them exactly what can be achieved in one year at Snow-Camp. We look forward to updating you on their progress!
