On Friday, students and staff of The Abbey School in Farnham were delighted to welcome Luke Taylor of Hart Brown solicitors representing trustees of the charity set up following a bequest made by Betty Riseley, who died in 2007, to their assembly for the presentation of a donation of £3,100 to the school.
The Abbey has 100 students aged 11 – 16 all of whom have learning difficulties. One third has a diagnosis of autism, and many have additional needs such as visual impairment, hearing impairment, ADHD, ADD or Asperger’s Syndrome. In addition to their special educational needs (SENs), many are on the disability register and/or come from socially deprived backgrounds. The school admits students from South West and North West Surrey, with a few from North East Hampshire – up to 28 miles away.
The special education and other needs of students are becoming more complex. At the same time, the number of social workers, therapists and counsellors in place to support them and their families has been cutback. The school currently has a part-time Home School Link Worker (HSLW) but funding for this position will cease at the end of the year. The HSLW not only liaises between the various parties involved in the student’s development but also works separately with students, parents/carers, teachers and other professionals, providing a sympathetic ear, identifying key issues, developing solutions and offering practical support such as parenting advice and referrals to relevant agencies. Desperate to keep the HSLW who provides invaluable support, help, advice and resources that have not been provided by other agencies, the Headteacher, Mr Chris Gardiner, approached The Friends of The Abbey School who in turn applied to The Betty Riseley Trust for help. The trust issues grants to organisations and other charities based in Surrey which work directly with young people aged 18 and below.
As Chris Gardiner explained: “Staff at the school work very hard and well beyond their contractual duties to improve life for young people at The Abbey. The Home School Link Worker is an increasingly important member of the team as the provision funded by national and local government contracts still further in the current economic climate. We are delighted that the application to The Betty Riseley Trust has been successful and the services of the HSLW can be secured for an additional year”.
If you would like to find out more about trusts please contact Luke Taylor
