What is the Elizabeth College Foundation?
What is the Elizabeth College Foundation?
The Elizabeth College Foundation is a charity set up to assist Elizabeth College in continuing to provide an excellent all-round education for children of the Bailiwick. It comprises both a Guernsey Registered Charitable Trust (CH91) and a UK Registered Charity (1120954) and was established with a number of important aims, not least to bring together members of the wider Elizabeth College including former parents of pupils, Old Elizabethans themselves, current Elizabethans and their parents, and other friends of the College.
The Foundation has a set of objectives which include the maintenance and improvement of buildings, provision of facilities and the awarding of bursaries and scholarships.
We are very privileged to have as our Foundation Patrons three Old Elizabethans: Sir Peter Le Cheminant (3946) the Bailiff, Sir Geoffrey Rowland (5603) and Roger Perrot (5450).
The first endeavour of the Foundation was a Development Appeal, launched in Spring 2007, to raise funds for a set of projects to be delivered within four years. These projects were selected as developments which were urgently required by the College and which have benefited all pupils at both the Junior School and Upper School. The Appeal successfully raised £1.5 million in donations from OEs in Guernsey, the UK and all over the world, as well as from Parents, Staff and other supporters of the College.
The 2007 Appeal projects have now been completed:
• The New Sixth Form Centre was formally opened on 22nd January 2008 by Sir Geoffrey Rowland the Bailiff of Guernsey and has been hugely successful in providing high quality and flexible accommodation for our Sixth-Form students.
• Beechwood All Weather Pitch was installed during Michaelmas Term 2007 and has provided a safe place for Junior School pupils to play and exercise, whatever the weather.
• The Acorn House Library and Music Room was formally opened by Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Le Cheminant on 7th November 2008. This bright new room has proved to be extremely popular with pupils and staff and is in constant use.
• The Robin Roussel pavilion at the Memorial Field in Footes Lane was opened on 11th March 2010.
Funds were raised for the final project, a retractable swimming pool cover, but unfortunately this project has had to be cancelled. Our application for planning permission was rejected and, in addition, there were some concerns about the structure of the pool which is now over 40 years old; it was feared that work to level and strengthen the pool surroundings may precipitate more problems than it solved.
This does, however, mean that the £175,000 ring-fenced for the pool cover can now form the first step towards funding the new College Refectory. The Refectory will be created in a new storey on top of the Geography block, or the old gym as many people know it. It will provide dining space for our Upper School pupils, as a much needed alternative to the College Hall. The new Gatehouse team, who have done wonders on improving the food provision at College, will run the Refectory.
The Foundation have also developed a Legacy programme for those who have decide to donate to Elizabeth College through their Will. Details about the Legacy programme and the associated Dead Donkey Club are available here.
If you wish to find out more about the Foundation or how you can help please contact the Foundation Office (Tel 01481 728217), who would also be happy to arrange for you to see the Foundation projects already completed and in hand.