CRITERIA
The purpose of The Reedham Trust is to
help children in the
United Kingdom
where the home circumstances are so unsatisfactory that a boarding environment
is essential. Our whole emphasis is
on boarding need rather than educational need.
The main criterion is a lack of parental
care, where no other suitable care is available and this situation can arise
through:
* Death or permanent
absence of one or both parents
* Severe and enduring
mental or physical ill health of parent(s)
* Abandonment or abuse
of child
* Disability of a
sibling of sufficient severity to be seriously prejudicial to the normal
development of the child
In
addition to the lack of care occasioned by any of the above, it must be
demonstrated that ALL of the following are met:-
·
The case for boarding is justified by the fact
that the home circumstances are seriously prejudicial to the normal development
of the child, and
·
there is confirmation from an independent
professional source that boarding is in the best interests of the child, and
·
the parent/guardian has insufficient income
and/or assets to pay for boarding.
A grant cannot normally be considered
if a child is already placed in a school without any means of meeting the
fees. The Trust does not normally consider any
child for whom the Local Authority has statutory responsibility.
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Please note
that the Trust is unable to consider assistance with fees at Performing Arts
Schools, for Day Fees or for young people who begin boarding in the 6th Form.
Below are brief details of
some of the young people recently supported by the Reedham Trust. These
should give an idea of situations where the Trust may be able to consider a
grant. The circumstances are real but names have been changed for data
protection purposes.
“Ann”
Her mother died from breast cancer while Ann was living in the
USA
with her parents. Ann and her father then returned to
England. One day father left Ann with his sister while he went to the shops and
never returned. Ann was given a home with her aunt and uncle, who had no
children of their own and the situation was difficult for them all. The
Trust helped to support Ann at boarding school and allowed her time and space to
develop a loving relationship with her aunt and uncle, who have recently become
her adoptive parents.
“Jessica”
Mother suffers from an obsession with hoarding and their house and garden were
stacked with carrier bags when our Caseworker visited. Mother had a
nervous breakdown 4 years ago and has been unwell since. The Trust was
able to make a grant available for Jessica to attend a state boarding school.
“
Andrew
”
His father had been in prison and after his release became a drug user.
Father has type 1 diabetes and
Andrew
also was recently diagnosed with this condition. The diagnosis changed
both their lives and father felt boarding school would provide the stability his
son so badly needs.
Andrew
has now settled well at boarding school with the help of the Reedham Trust.
“James”
The Trust have supported this young man for the past 3 years. In addition
to awarding a grant towards his boarding fees, we have been able to provide
additional grants to enable James to take part in school trips to
Europe
during the summer of 2010 and 2011. He would have had to miss out on
these trips without our help.
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