The Theo Trust was founded in 1998 to help orphans in Russia. It developed from a school scholarship scheme awarded exclusively to deprived children, offering free boarding education in the UK. This is at Foremarke Hall, the preparatory department of Repton School, Derbyshire. It has a separate trust that awards annually two scholarships lasting a year. The children stay with families during school holidays having a cultural as well as academic experience; it does wonders for their self-confidence and happiness. It also enables them to progress to English medium schools on their return to Russia and this usually leads on to higher education. Our aim, therefore, is simply to give orphans who have some academic potential better opportunities in life.
Thus the year spent at Foremarke is the start of a longer commitment, not just a one-off experience, and this is where Theo Trust Lifeline takes over. It monitors the orphans’ welfare on their return to Russia by maintaining regular contact, such as providing an English club that meets weekly, liaising with key orphanage and teaching staff, using ex-orphans as counsellors, and organising at least twice yearly visits from one of our trustees. This input makes for firmer friendship and influence.
The Theo Trust also extends its Lifeline programme by arranging shorter stays in the UK for orphans with some understanding of English. They are placed in schools for the month of June at the end of the Russian academic year. This is beneficial in several ways; it encourages children to develop their use of English as well as offering a broad cultural experience. Such visits involve staying with a family and in some cases taking part in an organised school holiday. By way of example, Gateways School near Leeds, invites two girls to share in the end of the summer term activities and to take part in their sponsored bike ride holiday, which in turn raises funds to cover the scheme.
Where family links have become well established, Lifeline helps fund the chance to come back during the following summer holiday for a further stay.
Since the scheme started in 1992 more than fifty orphans have experienced life at Foremarke. It has been a golden year for each of them and for their education. Many have prospered as a result and we have found that those who keep close contact with host families tend to be more secure and focused. They feel valued, when life for an adolescent in an institution can often be troublesome.
So, if you can help by supporting us (no gift is too small) it could make a dream come true and a young life that bit better. And it will give us the chance to widen our net and help more children. Our overheads are mainly met privately, so donations go almost entirely to benefit those we help.
Richard Theobald
Theo Trust
Registered charity No. 1069814
The trustees: Catriona Archer, Alan Passmore, Richard Theobald.
Deepdale Cottage, Deepdale, Penrith, CA11 0NS
Telephone 017684 82379, email: theotrust@aol.com
Bank details
Derbyshire Building Society
27 East Street, Derby
01332 363021
Account name: Theo Trust
Account Nr: 31560110 Sort Code 57-00-55