As part of our Trinity60 celebrations, this week’s whole school assembly welcomed back three former students who understand first hand the impact of the Trinity Bursary Fund. Each spoke with honesty about their experience and encouraged our current students to rise to the Trinity60 Challenge: raising £60 each to help widen access for the next generation. They also emphasised an important truth that is often misunderstood: bursaries do not come from school fees. The John Whitgift Foundation provides a generous grant and every place supported through the Trinity Bursary Fund exists thanks to voluntary donations from our community.
Geography teacher Mr Matt Doherty, who left Trinity in 2020 before returning as a member of staff, spoke powerfully about opportunity. Awarded a full bursary by the John Whitgift Foundation, he reflected on the doors it opened and the responsibility he felt to make the most of it. Now teaching alongside his former A Level teachers, Mr Doherty reminded students that bursaries enrich the whole community. “You are seeing a more realistic view of the world. A more realistic vision of the future you will find yourselves in.”
We were also delighted to welcome back Emily Tellum, now in her final year studying Psychology at the University of Bath. Emily joined Trinity Sixth Form on a bursary at a time when less girls were in the year group, yet spoke about how quickly she felt she belonged. “It could have been easy to feel out of place, but I never felt that at Trinity. The school has this incredible ability to make you feel welcome from the moment you step through its doors.”
Emily shared how much Trinity shaped her both academically and personally. She described a community that celebrates difference, pushes you to stretch yourself and makes space for every student to grow. “Trinity is special because people genuinely look out for one another. You feel part of something bigger than yourself.” Reflecting on her own bursary journey, she added, “Without the community effort and commitment to widening access, I could have passed those exams ten times over and still not been able to come to Trinity.”
Our final speaker, Kristian Sarai, now studying Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London, left Trinity only a few months ago. Although not a recipient himself, he spoke warmly about the friends who were. “Some of my closest friends were on bursaries and I couldn’t imagine my time at Trinity without them.” He encouraged students to think about their own friendship groups and the part widening access plays in shaping the community around them.
Kristian also shared insights from supporting the summer Telephone Campaign, which raises money for the Trinity Bursary Fund. “Everyone I spoke to absolutely loved Trinity, but it was clear that many families are struggling. The current economic climate poses a real danger to what makes this school unique and brilliant.” Turning to the Trinity60 Challenge, he urged everyone to get involved. “See it as a chance to have fun and do something you’ve never tried before. The crazier the better if it inspires more fundraising.”
All students have been added to the SuperKind platform and need to get a parent to approve their account via an email they will have received on their school email. Once approval is granted they can set up a fundraising page and take part in the Trinity60 Challenge, with all money raised going directly to the Trinity Bursary Fund.
Those who would like to donate directly to the Trinity60 appeal can do so via the Trinity Gives website: www.trinitygives.org.uk. We have loved hearing of students’ efforts so far, and the challenges they have set themselves to raise money this year, and look forward to hearing more after Christmas.
As Mr Doherty reminded everyone, “A little effort from us all will go a long way to maintaining the community at Trinity.”
As we mark 60 years at Shirley Park and look ahead to an exciting co-educational future, we hope every student will embrace the opportunity to make a difference.
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