Charities

Haileybury supports local, national and international charities, believing that pupils of all ages should take the opportunity to create, administrate and lead fund-raising projects to enhance their awareness of those less fortunate and to develop further those skills that are so essential for life beyond Haileybury. Pupils raise money for a huge range of charities, both as part of the School and in their individual capacities.

Haileybury pupils and staff are again supporting three charities this year (2011 - 2012) - The Attlee Fund, Haileybury Youth Trust and the Brittle Bone Society.

The Attlee Fund - one the School's highly acclaimed alumnae, Clement Attlee, was a pupil at Haileybury in Lawrence House from 1896. In the years to follow, the Attlee name became synonymous with pioneering work in support of good causes, aimed at extending opportunity. The current Lord Attlee was asked if the Attlee name could be associated with fundraising at Haileybury. We are grateful to him for acknowledging the family connections to the history of Haileybury and in allowing us to use the family name for The Attlee Fund.

We have a passionate wish to support pupils who apply to come to Haileybury but then are restricted in doing so by finances. The Attlee Fund will support bursaries and enable us to help young potential Haileyburians in accessing education at the School without financial restriction. Our ambition is to raise £1 million for the Fund, so that we can support as many young people as possible.

Haileybury Youth Trust works with Ugandan communities to improve lives by meeting humanitarian needs, such as housing, education and access to clean water. They do so, however, in a way that preserves Uganda's fragile environment rather than damages it. HYT is a small charity that works in a part of Uganda it knows well, with trusted and long-standing partners. HYT also provides training programmes and encourages community participation, often with and through schools. See www.haileyburyyouthtrust.com for more information.

Brittle Bone Society - Founded in Dundee in 1968, the Brittle Bone Society is the only UK-wide organisation providing support to people affected by the bone condition Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI). A person with OI (also known as brittle bones) has a genetic bone condition characterised by fragile bones that break easily. As well as frequently fractured bones, people with OI have muscle weakness, hearing loss, fatigue, joint laxity, curved bones, scoliosis, blue sclerae, dentinogenesis imperfecta, short stature and often constant pain. OI can also in some cases lead to restrictive pulmonary conditions. OI is caused by a genetic mutation that affects the body's production of collagen.

The charity works closely with the main NHS centres of excellence in the UK - Sheffield, Birmingham, Great Ormond Street, Bristol and Glasgow. They fundraise for specialised wheelchairs and offer a free confidential support service and signposting help on all day-to-day issues such as genetics, education, work and travel. Isolation affects many of their members and they arrange regular events to encourage peer support and networking. They are keen to grow their involvement in vital research work, and to help improve treatment and care of those living with bones that break. With the help of their specialist Medical Advisory Board, they aim to provide the latest updates on treatment and care for members with OI. See www.brittlebone.org for more information.