Thank you to everyone who has supported this Fund in 2020. We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our community in the face of the global pandemic, and we are grateful for the financial, practical and moral support you have given us. As at the end of November 2020 we have raised (and spent) over £200,000 to keep everyone safe.
Preparations for reopening College in September involved establishing a specific COVID medical facility, the ‘Nightingale House’ where we could test, isolate, and care for anyone with suspected Coronavirus. We bought quantities of PPE, to safeguard our medics, other members of staff and pupils. We converted store rooms and offices into classrooms to help with social distancing, and we made significant purchases of essential items such as screens, hand sanitising dispensers and signage.
Knowing that we could continue to draw on the COVID Response Fund as the Autumn Term started was hugely appreciated. Technology was crucial to the girls’ uninterrupted education, and we were able to support all IT requests for additional equipment and software as they arose. We were also able to purchase a SAMBA II machine to run medical tests in a more efficient way, and this was a real game-changer in keeping teaching and learning on track, and relieving anxiety.
We are still fundraising with a target of £400,000 to keep the girls safe and to alleviate cases of hardship that are specifically related to the pandemic.
Everyone at College is enormously grateful for your support. Thank you so very much.
