The Caldecott Foundation, the Ashford-based charity, caring for children and young people who have suffered cruelty and neglect, is delighted to announce that it has reached its £750,000 centenary campaign goal to build a new vocational learning centre and supported accommodation.
The money was raised through numerous local and national fundraising activities and events, as well as donations from charitable trusts and foundations.
The Centenary Appeal will help Caldecott’s older children acquire workplace skills in a range of fields such as construction, car mechanics and hair and beauty, helping them move into independence and employment for a happier, fulfilled life.
Clive Lee, CEO of The Caldecott Foundation said: “This is an incredible achievement and the investment will provide our young people with an outstanding environment in which to learn, grow and acquire the essential life skills for their role in society.
“Our objective is to ensure they have a real chance of a happy and successful future, avoiding the cycle of addiction, homelessness, crime and severe mental health problems, suffered by so many care leavers.”
The fundraising campaign, which marked the founding of The Caldecott Foundation in London in 1911, has raised money for a vocational learning centre to be built next to the Caldecott School, providing BTEC training in a fully equipped construction workshop and hair and beauty salon.
A second offsite training unit to teach car mechanics will also be established with courses starting in September 2013.
The third element of the appeal was directed at improvements to Caldecott’s supported accommodation in Ashford, Kent, helping older children make a successful transition from care to full independence, equipping them with life skills such as budgeting, shopping, personal presentation, preparation for the workplace and the confidence to thrive in their new environment.
The Centenary campaign also helped to generate one other unexpected, but hugely welcome, major donation of £195,000 from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. The money is to be spent on therapy services at Caldecott, a key provision for children who have endured emotional and psychological problems as a result of neglect and trauma.
More than twenty charitable trusts and foundations made donations to the centenary fund, while Caldecott’s friends and supporters arranged successful fundraising events including a London art auction, an evening at the Royal College of Music and a summer garden party at Doddington Place near Sittingbourne. A further highlight of the Centenary Year was the well-attended Thanksgiving service held at Canterbury Cathedral.
Caldecott, which provides residential care, education, therapy and fostering services for children aged 5-18, is organising a formal opening of the new vocational training facilities and a celebration to mark the closure of the centenary appeal later this year.
For more information about The Caldecott Foundation, please visit the website: http://www.thecaldecottfoundation.co.uk