27. 10-12-20 Treloar’s Virtual Liveries Day

In 1908 the then Lord Mayor of the City of London, Sir William Purdie Treloar, opened his school and hospital in Alton, Hampshire for disabled children. Today the Treloar’s School continues this tradition caring for around 170 severely disabled children many of whom require 24-hour care. The Virtual Liveries Day provides an opportunity for the Masters of Livery Companies, who provide a vital part of the funding of the school, to see the work of the Treloar’s charity and how the children are cared for and educated. Such are the high standards of education at Treloar’s that they have achieved an “outstanding” rating from OFSTED.

The event opened with a welcoming address by Simon Birch, CEO at Treloar’s who described the excellent facilities at the school and how the charity raises around £2m per annum to maintain them. He explained how the pandemic had meant significant additional costs to keep the school functioning and how the pandemic had also restricted their ability to raise funds via normal fund-raising events. The Water Conservation Trust normally donates £1000 each year from a collection at a lunch event, and will be continuing to donate £1000 this year even though we have had to cancel our lunch events.

Martin Ingram, the school Principal, then talked about the anxiety amongst the students during the first lockdown when it was not clear whether local hospitals would be able cope with any patients from the school. The school adapted well to the restrictions in place during the pandemic with some education being delivered remotely.

We were then given access to a class in progress via zoom. The children were acting out “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, with each child playing a character from the story. The young boy in the centre of the photograph below played the part of the ghost of Christmas past.

Finally, there was a question and answer session with the leadership team at Treloar’s. Overall, it was an amazing and moving experience, and I look forward to the possibility of actually visiting the school when the pandemic is over.