The 1785 Foundation

The 1785 Foundation is an important way in which you can directly support Belfast Royal Academy pupils, either on a regular basis or with a one-off donation.

The Foundation, named after the year of the Academy's foundation, is the main way in which the entire Belfast Royal Academy community can enrich the lives of our current pupils and help support and fund a range of activities within the School. This is significant source of funding which has already contributed to a wide range of initiatives.

• In its first year, monies from the Foundation have been used to assist with the regular purchase of cereal bars and fruit, now available daily outside the General Office for those pupils who are unable to bring a snack with them to school and who would otherwise go without a nutritious breakfast or breaktime snack.

• While we strive to provide a secure and supportive environment for all pupils, we recognise that, from time to time, some pupils need additional pastoral care and support from external providers. The Foundation has therefore allocated funds this year towards the provision of additional counselling and professional guidance sessions to meet the needs of these pupils.

• Support has also been provided to the School’s highly popular Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme through the purchase of much needed essential equipment to ensure that many more of our pupils can benefit from this challenging and rewarding programme.

• On occasions where a pupil is selected to represent the school at a sporting event or for a school sporting team and is not able to personally fund the cost of the specific sports kit or trip costs, the Foundation will step in to fund the purchase of the required sporting items or assist with financing any associated costs.

You can become a member of the 1785 Foundation by either making regular contributions or by giving a one-off gift. All Foundation members will receive regular news and information about the school as well as invitations to selected school events.

Contributing to the Foundation is the best way to provide support to the school and all donations, both large and small, are always very gratefully received.