As a result, the School’s Trustees have agreed it would be appropriate to donate early some of the funds that have been raised to date (rather than waiting until October after the financial year end.) We asked the charities if this would be helpful and they all responded with a resounding 'yes' !  we have therefore sent £1,000 each to the local charities and Project Le Monde.

For Macmillan, we still hope to have a specific fundraiser event later in the year, and so have not made a payment to them as yet, but this may be reviewed.

 We would like to thank every parent, pupil and member of staff involved in making these donations possible.

Our support has not simply been monetary, our students have been incredibly thoughtful in their dedication to the charities by sending letters and cards to them all. 

We received some wonderful replies from our connections at each charity:

Foal Farm

"These are very difficult times for our small charity. We have faced plenty of challenges in the past 50 years. We are actually approaching 60 years since our charity was first established! But this pandemic really has put an unprecedented pressure on our rescue centre. It is like nothing we have experienced before.

Thank you for reaching out to us and for keeping us in your thoughts . The £1,000 donation is a very kind gesture ...most of our means of fundraising, e.g. our events and our charity shops, are no use during this time. We really need all of the help we can get to see us through the upcoming months. 

We really cannot thank you enough for your dedication to our cause. We are supported by a handful of local schools but Radnor House is truly the most determined and generous. Even during these awful circumstances your team have kept in touch with us and we are very grateful."

West Kent Mind

"This is a hugely challenging time for all small charities like ourselves which makes us even more grateful to receive your kind email with the generous offer of a donation of £1000.  For us, we are fighting even harder than ever to continue offering support in different ways, as we know for sure that this current situation is challenging for all of our mental wellbeing and will continue to be so. We would very much like to take you up on your kind offer please and with heartfelt thanks. Please do share our gratitude with everyone at the school."

Bradbourne RDA

"Without being able to generate any income from the regular sessions,  we are using up our reserves, usually set aside for a circumstance like foot and mouth or equine flu... Therefore, your monies now will be incredibly valuable to us towards the weekly payment for the upkeep of the Bradbourne RDA Group ponies, so that as soon as we are permitted back onto site we can start re-training them (assuming we can persuade them to come in from their ‘holiday’ on lovely grass in the sun!) and work towards inviting the participants back...

We are so appreciative of your support and clearly many of the children feel very engaged with Bradbourne RDA Group and what we represent, and are enjoying supporting us.  I had a couple of lovely emails from children...!"

Leonard Cheshire

"Firstly thank you so much for you kind offer of this money, it will be greatly appreciated by all at Chipstead Lake. You may be aware that we were starting a project for our gardens here this year and that Barrie-Anne may have mentioned it in one of her many speeches at your school, the funding will be such a help to eventually get things moving once life get back to some normality. Linda our service manager would like to thank Radnor for all their support at this difficult time and hope that all the families and staff stay safe and well."

Project Le Monde

For Project LeMonde, as the pandemic sweeps across Africa, the school at Namakoko has had to close, and they are particularly worried for the teachers who were sent back to their villages without any support from the government, and are struggling to support their families.

"We are so appreciative of the help RH7 and our supporters have given over the years in changing the lives of so many children in Uganda – but now we need that help more than ever as the Covid-19 pandemic sweeps across Africa. The coronavirus crisis in Uganda has forced schools to close, head teachers are trying to figure out how to pay their bills and staff members, while families face hardship like never before as they struggle to put food on the table in these most desperate of times... The schools we continue to support in Uganda including Namakoko have never needed Project le Monde quite as much as they do now – thank you."

Not only have we been helping our chosen school charities, but we have also been working with our catering company, Thomas Franks, to feed those in need.

Through donations from Radnor House Sevenoaks, Thomas Franks catering has been working tirelessly to feed those in need during the COVID-19 crisis, including members of the NHS who are on the frontline

This kind donation from Radnor House, will provide healthcare staff with a simple nutritious take home chilled meal, meaning they do not need to shop or cook for themselves after a long and tiring shift.

Our work does not stop here

Despite not being physically together and able to run the type of events we would usually to fundraise, we have set up some ideas for fundraising at home:

•Steps Challenge- The challenge is to walk or run over 8000 steps a day and be sponsored for it.

•Chores Around the House- Get sponsored for a chore (or 2) each day in your house such as vacuuming/ cleaning/ washing the car. 

•Radnor Bake-Off- make and bake a Rainbow Cake taking place next Wednesday 13th May. 

•Lockdown House Charity Haircuts/ Design

•Radnor House Masterchef

•Radnor House Quiz

•Radnor House Talent Show

The wonderful Friends of Radnor House are working hard to help our charities

Please use this link to sign up to Easyfundraising and choose to support Friends of Radnor House Sevenoaks. This is a free scheme to donate as you shop online. Every penny counts and 100’s of online shops and services participate.

Organise a jam jar for a loose change collection for your house charity and let us know how you get on by emailing friends@radnor-sevenoaks.org  Really, every penny counts!