Our mission
Our unwavering dedication to education and community development, is at the very heart of our mission.
At the Fonthill Foundation, we believe that education is the cornerstone of positive change, and community development is the path to a brighter, more inclusive future.
Education initiatives
We are passionate about creating opportunities for learning and personal growth. Our educational initiatives are carefully designed to foster curiosity, inspire young minds, and provide access to quality education for all.
Our history
The Fonthill Foundation, our charity, is the legacy of Fonthill Lodge School, dating back to the 1800s.
It began as ‘Radcliffe’s,’ established by Rev. Dr. George Radcliffe in the early 1800s in Salisbury. In 1840, George’s son, Rev. William Coxe Radcliffe, relocated the school to Fonthill Gifford, renaming it ‘Fonthill’. A few years later in 1886 the school moved to Saint Hill, on the outskirts of East Grinstead, where it remained until the early 2000’s. The senior school closed in 1985, followed by the prep school in 2011.
Despite this, we continue the legacy initiated by George Radcliffe in the 1880s through the Fonthill Foundation Charity, supporting life-changing educational opportunities for young people.
Our team
Meet our staff
At the core of our mission, you'll find a dedicated and passionate team that makes a big impact. They are the driving force behind our pursuit of a brighter, more inclusive future through education and community development. We see our small size as an advantage, as it allows us to work closely, communicate effectively, and make quick, informed decisions.
Ceetah Grieves
CEO
Laura Ward
Projects ManagerBoard of Trustees
Our organisation is guided by a committed and experienced Board of Trustees. They bring diverse skills and knowledge to the table, ensuring that our decisions and leadership are of the highest quality.
Victoria Henley
Trustee
Maggie Lloyd
Trustee
Niki Cannon
Trustee
Adrian Carver
TrusteeWhat's new
Stay in the loop with our latest charity news, projects and goings on.
New Round of Community Grant Funding
We are thrilled to have awarded fifteen Community Grants in our latest funding round. As always we received a high-level of interest in this programme that offers grants of up to £5,000 to community focused education projects. Recipients include: Varndean College, Dens & Signals, Impact Initiatives, Prison Family Support CIC, Tuppenney Barn Education, Brighton Women's Centre, 1st Petworth Scouts, Brighton Marina Studios Foundation, Priory School, Pregnancy Options Centre, Chichester, Debbie Stevens Wellbeing CIC, Carlton Hill Primary School, Brent Lodge Bird & Wildlife Centre, The Goodwood Education Trust, and Family Support Work.
Visiting Saltpond Education Project, Ghana
During our trip to Ghana we also visited a small education organisation based in the southern coastal region of the Country. Saltpond Education Project (SEP) run a small primary school for children in the rural fishing based communities of the south coast. SEP Happy School provides fee-free education to those who need it most, helping to break the cycle of poverty that often afflicts fishing communities in Ghana. It was a joy to finally get to visit the school after the cancellation of our planned trip back in Spring 2020 due to the pandemic.
PEAS School Improvement Programme, Ghana
During our Ghana trip we travelled to the upper west region to visit project partners PEAS, who have been rolling out a successful pilot project with the local Ghana Education Service and partners, the Savannah Education Trust, to design and deliver a sustainable school improvement programme. We were able to see how the programme is driving sustainable change through it's focus on building school leaders’ capacity to drive long-term improvements, including inclusive teaching practices, robust safeguarding systems and a positive school culture.
Visiting EduSpots in Ghana
Having supported EduSpots for many years we were thrilled to finally visit their community-led education spaces in Ghana this year. Their unique locally-driven model of education supports an extensive network of volunteers known as 'Catalysts' to deliver high-quality education in their communities across rural Ghana, where often mainstream education is of poor quality or lacking all together. It was such a pleasure to meet so many inspirational young people who are dedicated to driving change for a better future.
Project Partner Visit to Sabre Education, Ghana
During our trip to Ghana in October we were delighted to spend time with the Sabre Education Team in Accra who had arranged an impressive two days visiting many aspects of their Early Childhood Education programme. With Sabre Education's support, Ghana is now recognised as a leader in early childhood education in Africa, with two years of free, compulsory kindergarten education supported by a robust national policy and play-based curriculum.
2024-25 Residential Activity Trips Funded
We are delighted to have recently approved funding to support 20 residential outdoor activity trips for some of the most in need primary schools across East and West Sussex. The grants mean that these trips, planned for the 2024-25 academic year, will be fully inclusive for all pupils irrespective of their ability to afford to participate.
