Uncategorized

Outreach going from strength to strength

Trustees Amanda and Becky visited the Outreach Programme (based on the land awaiting the construction of our new school). Our new social worker, Logesh, has settled into his job well and has made good contacts with local families who now send their children to the Outreach Programme.

The programme, which initially started with five children, now has up to 25 attending on a regular basis. The children obviously loved the rhymes and craft activities delivered by the staff and are being offered learning experiences which will be highly beneficial to their development.

 

Watch our Batemans webinar

Batemans is developing some exciting plans to to build a new school and home.

On  26 September, we held a webinar to give our supporters an insight into the progress made so far, including completing the purchase of two adjoining plots of land – and our plans for the future.

Our founder Alex Jacob shares stories of children Batemans has helped, and our architect and trustee Paul Crosby talks through his vision, inspiration and drawings for the new building. Plus find out how to help us raise the funds to turn this vision into reality.

Watch the edited highlights here or the full hour-long version here.

Join our Batemans webinar

Coming to a screen wherever you are… our very first free Batemans Webinar. 

Please save the date, Saturday 26 September at 11am, when we will be broadcasting a special event that you will be able to join via Zoom. 

Yes, we are going live – and it could be in your home, office, garden, anywhere you have a good wifi connection. 

You can gather in your social or family bubbles to watch on your iPads, phones or personal computers. Why not put the kettle on and bring out the cake to enjoy as you join us! 

It’s as simple as 1,2,3 . . . 

1. Log in using the details we will send out

Our founder Alex Jacob will greet you in person on screen with a warm welcome before bringing you up to date with the latest from Batemans/Satkaarya. 

2. The big event

A fascinating insight into the designs for the new school and  home with the exciting drawings and ideas brought up on your screen. 

Our architect Paul Crosby will talk you through them, bringing to life the future for our children. We’re sure his enthusiasm, expertise and foresight will have you enthralled. 

Using his on-screen cursor he’ll point out where the children will walk through from home to school, where they will play and study, and where our staff will work. 

You’ll wander virtually along the airy verandas, exclaim at the well-planned open space for performances, and delight in the surrounding grounds. 

You’ll see visuals showing the heritage that forms the shaping of the naturally air cooled buildings and accessible space we’re developing. 

Thanks to Zoom technology there’s room for all, so we’d love it if you would encourage all your friends and family to ‘Zoom’ in. 

3. How to Zoom

To join, simply send an acceptance email to jemma.little@batemans.org.uk and all the logging on details will be sent to you to use and share. 

We look forward to seeing you there – and please invite your friends and family to join too!

The 2020 Spice Lunch is on!

Sunday September 13th at 12.30pm

Hosted by Nick and Mary Thompson at 27 Stocks Lane, Abingdon, OX13 6SS.

If the weather is good, please stay and have a socially distanced picnic outside. Bring your own plates, cutlery and drinks. Tables and chairs provided.

Chicken curry and chickpea and spinach curry, dhal, vegetables and rice and chapattis. (This can be packed individually or in group packs). Weather permitting, there will be an update about how our Batemans children and team (some of whom are pictured above) have managed during lockdown.

Tickets are £7.50 each; children under 10 go free.

To book, please email mail@batemans.org.uk, with your name and the number of people attending, and make your payment via www.justgiving.com/batemanstrust

Building brighter futures: please donate via our 2019/20 wish list

Help build brighter futures for more disadvantaged children in Chennai by using Batemans wish list this Christmas.

For every ‘wish’ that you donate, we will send a special gift card that can be passed on to friends and family to let them know you have made a donation by way of a gift to them. Download the wish list to find out how to get involved and give a present that will really make a difference this Christmas.

How does the wish list work?

We will send gift cards to anyone donating more than £10 to the wish list.

To order one or more gift cards, donate via JustGiving, then email mail@batemans.org.uk with your name, address details and number of cards required.

Alternatively, print out the wish list, complete the form and post to the address on page four as soon as possible.

 

Major donation provides further momentum for Batemans’ new building project

Batemans’ drive to raise funds for a new school and boarding home has received a massive boost, thanks to a hugely generous donation by shareholders of a Chennai business.

The UK and Ireland-based shareholders of Meritgroup Ltd made the donation of around £80,000 following the sale of their data and technology business, which was set up in Chennai in 2004.

It means Batemans is now more than one third of the way towards our £280,000 fundraising target for the new building project.

Over the past decade, a number of former Batemans students have gone on to work for Merit, including 21-year-old Isabel Ireland who is currently working for Merit’s digital marketing team in Mumbai.

Cornelius (Con) Conlon, chief executive of Merit, said: “We have been based in Chennai for 14 years and the shareholders are conscious of how much we have benefited from our association with the city and its people.

“We felt that by donating to such a long-standing Chennai-based charity, it was a chance to give something back. We are delighted to be supporting Batemans and can’t wait to see the plans becoming reality over the next few months and years.

Anne Desir, chair of Batemans’ trustees, said: “Meritgroup, and particularly Con and his wife Natasha – who is a Batemans trustee – have been great supporters of Batemans over the years.

“We are so grateful for this hugely generous donation, which gives further impetus to our exciting future plans.”

Find out more about:

 

Be part of the Batemans-Satkaarya Grand 100!

The Grand 100 are 100 amazing Batemans supporters each pledging to donate £1,000 over a 12-month period.

Together they will raise £100,000 of the £250,000 we need to build a primary school and community training centre to help underprivileged children in Chennai, south India. For more detailed information about our plans, you can download our Development proposal.

How does it work?

To become part of the Grand 100, you can donate £1,000 right now via our Grand 100 JustGiving page or send a cheque to The Batemans Trust, 27 Stocks Lane, Steventon, Nr Abingdon, OXON, OX13 6SS (please write Grand 100 on the back).

To make a pledge to raise £1,000 over the year, please email grand100@batemans.org.uk

We will send you some fundraising support, a logo and a fundraising thermometer.

Who’s involved?

So far, the supporters that have pledged to be part of the Grand 100 include:

Spring Park Capital

Old Buckenham Hall School in Suffolk

CPL in Cambridge

Cambridge Sashcraft

Greenwich Free School

 

 

‘Educate a girl, empower a nation’: please donate via our 2017/18 Wish List

Educating girls has been a Batemans priority for many years and it is the focus of our 2017/18 Wish List.

If a girl can make it through primary and secondary education, the chances of lifting her and future generations out of poverty are vastly increased.

While Batemans has a proud history of enabling all the children in its care to fulfil their potential, we recognise that girls face unique challenges to access education.

Please help us continue to change lives this Christmas by giving a gift that will have a lasting impact.

How does the wish list work?

We will send gift cards to anyone donating more than £10 to The Batemans Trust Wish List. These cards can be sent to friends and family to let them know that you have made a donation by way of a gift to them.

To order one or more gift cards, donate via JustGiving, then email mail@batemans.org.uk with your name, address details and number of cards required.

Alternatively, download the Wish List, print it out, complete the form and post to the address on page four as soon as possible.