As you may know, this year is FetLor’s 100th birthday!
We are keen to connect with as many former members as we can this year.
On 24th May we are having our Centenary Dinner at Fettes College. As part of that evening, we would like to show some short interviews with former members. We are keen to hear about your favourite FetLor experiences and what you are doing now.
Our Chief Executive, Richie Adams, would love to chat with you. Richie would be delighted to welcome you to the club for a coffee and chat at a time to suit you or he’ll happily come and meet you at a place that suits you both.
Alternatively, if you’d like to make a short video telling us your favourite FetLor memory, when you were a member and what you’re doing now and, perhaps, wish us a happy birthday, we can show that on the night too. Just send it to Richie and he’ll do the rest.
We are really keen to make this a fantastic year and very much hope we can reconnect with you.
If you would like to come to the Club or meet with Richie somewhere else, please either message us here or drop Richie and email at richie@fetlor.org.uk
Time is running out to secure a fully-funded place at Fettes College, with applications from students in Midlothian to be completed before mid-January.
Until this year, only two pupils from Edinburgh state primary schools were eligible for Kick-start, a transformational bursary scheme which will fund an entire Fettes College education, but this was extended to 11-year-olds from across Scotland in September.
To be eligible for this bursary, which is supported by a charitable trust, applicants must be 11 years old in September 2024, and receive free school meals or be in a low-income household.
Prospective candidates can access support with their applications from teachers at Fettes College, as well as their respective primary schools.
Ms Amanda Mair, a teacher in Fettes Prep School, has supported previous Kick-start students, their families, and their primary schools from the very beginning of the programme in 2018.
Amanda said:“It’s always such a pleasure to meet the bright and talented prospective candidates for the Kick-start bursary, and to be able to show them around our school, letting them know all about life at Fettes.
“I visit local schools to meet prospective pupils and their teachers, and have previously helped families fill in the registration forms, as I know it can sometimes feel like a daunting process.”
Following an entrance assessment, the two successful children will join Fettes’ Prep School for the first two years of their education, giving them the chance to familiarise themselves with the school environment across a stunning 100-acre campus before moving up to the Senior School.
The successful students will also have access to the latest technology, as well as an extensive range of sports, co-curricular activities, outdoor pursuits and trips.
As standard at Fettes, the successful students will also be matched with a buddy to ensure they receive a warm welcome to the school.
Old Fettesian (alumni) membership and access to the Fettes Careers Partnership is also included within the bursary, so the students have a connection to the school community for life.
A parent of a Fettes Kick-start student said: “The Kick-start bursary has enhanced all of our lives, with Fettes providing help at each stage of the process. Being part of the Fettes community and watching the skills and opportunities the children get is so rewarding.
“The Kick-start bursary won’t just provide until the child is 18 years old, as the lessons and skills they’ll learn will be with them for the rest of their lives. We are truly grateful for all that Fettes provides and all the support they give us. The Kick-start bursary is so amazing and has changed our family’s lives for the better.”
Mr Charlie Minogue, Headmaster of Fettes Colleges Preparatory School, said: “Our philanthropic mission hasn’t changed since Fettes was founded through the philanthropy of Sir William Fettes in 1870. We want to break down the barriers and help bright young pupils, regardless of their circumstances, gain access to a Fettes education so they can have an opportunity to make the most of their talents.
“This bursary is awarded to ambitious boys and girls who would not ordinarily be in a position to benefit from a Fettes education. It’s a unique opportunity to experience the exceptional education we provide at Fettes, which nurtures and discovers talents and inspires a lifelong love of learning. I’d encourage applications from students across Scotland.”
In addition to the support available from Fettes’ staff such as Ms Mair and headteachers, families can also benefit from support from staff at local FetLor Youth Club in Edinburgh.
FetLor’s Chief Executive Dr Richie Adams is keen to encourage families to contact him and his staff at FetLor Youth Club for hands-on support with their application.
Dr Richie Adams, Chief Executive of FetLor, said: “FetLor offers children and young people in the North of Edinburgh a safe place to develop their resilience, their confidence, achieve their potential, and enjoy a hot meal, even in times of challenge, hardship, and real need.
“Anything we can do to create opportunities to support these young people is something we embrace wholeheartedly. The Kick-start bursary should be grasped with both hands.”
Applications for the bursary will close on 15 January 2024.
We are nearing the day when young people can come and enjoy FetLor once again! Our clubs start back one week today – on September 5th. There has been a couple of small changes in our timetable from last year. See the flyer for all clubs and times.
As always clubs require registration. This needs to be completed by everyone.
To register simply click the link to take you through our digital form:
We have our AGM/Graduation at Fetlor Youth Club today and it would be great if some of our local partner were able to attend to help us celebrate what the young people have achieved and some of the plans for the future.
Edinburgh-based groups helping older people to re-connect, new parents feel less isolated and those with sight loss more empowered are amongst those today sharing in £1,483,518 of National Lottery funding.
The cash from The National Lottery Community Fund is being shared by 30 groups in the city helping local communities adapt and recover from COVID-19.
Neil Saddington, Equalities and Inclusion Worker with the group, said: “Most of the Spring Chickens group are elderly people who experience a variety of different health issues and disabilities.
“This essential National Lottery funding has enabled us to do valuable work to combat isolation and loneliness during the most recent lockdown. Now that restrictions are slowly being lifted, we are looking forward to one to one outdoor meet ups to support some of the most isolated members of the group get out and about again.”
There was more good news for another North Edinburgh project as FetLor youth club has also received National Lottery support.
The club said in a statement: “FetLor are delighted to have received an award from The National Lottery Community Fund. We plan to use this funding to support our young people as they return to the Club after lockdown.
“FetLor is a club at the heart of the north Edinburgh community and this funding will support the young people from that community as they make a return to what’s important; being with friends in a safe and supportive space.”
FetLor Director, Richie Adams said, “This last year has been challenging both for our members and for our community. As we move out of lockdown, we are delighted to be welcoming young people back into their club.
“We are looking forward to supporting our members build resilience, achieve their potential and have great fun doing so! The support from the National Lottery enables us to do all we can to make sure our members have a fun time thriving and growing at FetLor”
Based in Edinburgh and working Scotland wide, Sight Scotland offers support to anyone impacted by sight loss, as well as their relatives, friends and carers.
Thanks to an award of £150,000, its Family Wellbeing service will providea range of support to address the loneliness and mental health impacts of sight-loss, and the additional impacts of Covid-19.
Mark O’Donnell, Chief Executive of Sight Scotland, said: “A huge thank you to the National Lottery Community Fund for this funding. It will enable us to provide practical and emotional support to even more people affected by visual impairment in communities across Scotland via our recently established Family Wellbeing Service.
“With the number of people with sight loss in Scotland set to increase by 30,000 to over 200,000 in the next decade, it is vital that Sight Scotland is there for people with sight loss and their loved ones whenever and however they need us.”
An award of £107,000 goes to Passion4Fusion to deliver a health, wellbeing and support service for Black African people in Edinburgh and West Lothian.
Welcoming the award Jonathan Ssentamu of Passion4Fusion, said: “We are very excited and really grateful for the support of the National Lottery Community Fund to enable us to develop this much-needed project which will help to address the complex issues and needs that Black Africans are facing.
“Experience has shown us that many Black Africans living in poverty and deprivation would choose to be ‘invisible’ rather than admit to needing help and in turn seeking the help they need. Our Project will support people directly within their local community, making it as easy as possible to access culturally sensitive services that will allow them to thrive in life.”
“This essential National Lottery funding has enabled us to do valuable work to combat isolation and loneliness during the most recent lockdown. Now that restrictions are slowly being lifted, we are looking forward to one to one outdoor meet ups to support some of the most isolated members of the group get out and about again.”
Dads Rock will deliver group sessions to fathers on topics such as parenting advice, health and safety and mental health, thanks to an award of £9,950.
Lisa Holder, Fundraising Manager, said: “This funding will help us give online support to around 1000 parents across Scotland over the next year, helping them to feel less isolated and learn new skills.
“It will enable them to become more confident and resilient and their children will feel safe, loved and supported.”
Networking Key Services Limited is a community organisation working closely with South Asian and other ethnic minority communities in Edinburgh.
Welcoming their £103,840 award, Naina Minhas, Manager, Networking Key Services Ltd, said: “The National Lottery funding we have received in the past has enabled us to set up a forum for South Asian female carers in Edinburgh.
“This new award will go a long way to address the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on South Asian communities and will enable us to support communities in their recovery from the challenges that have further widened pre-existing inequalities.”
Across the country 246 community projects are today sharing in£10,922,832.
Announcing the funding, The National Lottery Community Fund’s Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “It’s great to see such a variety of projects being funded in Edinburgh to help local people adapt and recover from the physical and mental health impacts of COVID-19.
“National Lottery players can be proud to know that the money they raise is making such a difference, connecting local people to others in their communities.”
National Lottery players raise £30 million every week for good causes in the UK.
