Registered Charity no. 1058466
We have a vibrant and active parents’ association called Friends of Rowan (FoR). Each year they organise events for the girls and their families, helping them to meet and socialise. Events range from the ever-popular Christmas and Summer Fairs for families to quiz nights and dinner dances for Rowan parents. The funds raised from such events are used to provide additional items and facilities at school and to support projects which directly benefit the girls. FoR also aim to contribute to other charities.
Friends of Rowan rely on the support of parent volunteers and are always very grateful to everyone that is able to support their activities. Please contact them at friends@rowanprepschool.co.uk if you are interested in volunteering or helping to organise an event.
For updates on FoR activities and events, see social media links below:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/friendsofrowan
Twitter - https://mobile.twitter.com/friendsofrowan1
Facebook - https://m.facebook.com/FriendsofRowanPrep/
FoR Team
The FoR Committee comprises elected trustees and volunteers who liaise with a network of parent class representatives to help arrange events and discuss funding opportunities.
The FoR trustees are Victoria Buss (Chair), Rachel Brooks (Vice Chair), Alex Leighton-Davies (Treasurer), Suzanne Cheadle (Secretary), and Sarah Raja (Headmistress).
Each year group across the school has volunteer Class Reps who act as a communication link between FoR and their fellow parents in their daughters’ class/year. The role involves encouraging support for FoR events, seeking event volunteers when needed, and providing feedback to the FoR Committee after events.
The list of the current FoR Committee members can be found below. Please contact friends@rowanprepschool.co.uk if you would like to confirm the name of your Class Rep. FoR is very grateful for the work and support of all Class Reps and event volunteers, without whom FoR could not do all that it does!
Funding Requests
FoR have sponsored a variety of projects for the girls over the years including VR headsets with educational content across the entire curriculum, musical instruments, retractable tiered seating in the school hall, Lego kits to support STEM learning, Forest School, playground apparatus, willow weaving workshops to mark the school’s 85th anniversary, a mobile climbing wall experience and circus skills workshop during Wellbeing Week, a British Sign Language introductory session, author visits and much more! FoR were also delighted to co-fund a project with the school to transform the Spinney, a wooded and grassed area at Rowan Hill that fuels imaginative play. The grass area was resurfaced in Summer 2022 with an all-weather artificial grass surface to enable the girls to play in their favourite place all year-round come rain or shine!
FoR's funding projects during the 2022/2023 academic year included three new 3D printers and a laser cutter for the Engineering & Technology department, upgraded wet play resources for each Rowan Hill class, and new Brae playground equipment. FoR were also pleased to contribute to the school's redevelopment of the Rowan Brae site in Summer 2023. This was a significant project, with FoR's contribution focusing on renovating the Preschool and Nursery learning and play spaces.
Suggestions for funding requests may be made by the school, FoR or any parent member by presenting their suggestion in writing to the FoR Committee (Funding Request Form below).
Second Hand Uniform
The school’s uniform lists can be found at: https://www.rowanprepschool.co.uk/parents-information/uniform
FoR run one on-site second hand uniform sale per term and collect donations of unwanted uniform items from parents approximately two weeks prior to an on-site sale. Proceeds go to FoR to fund additional projects directly benefiting Rowan girls, with the exception of 50% commission to parents on the sale of second hand blazers.If you would like FoR to sell a blazer on your behalf, please complete a Blazer Submission Form (available below) and enclose it with the blazer when donated. For FoR second hand uniform sales queries, please contact friends@rowanprepschool.co.uk
Alternatively, parents are able to buy and sell second hand uniform to each other via the online marketplace, Uniformis https://uniformis.online/. Uniformis charge 10% commission and a 2% transaction fee for each sale, with the parent seller receiving 88% of the sale price. Instructions can be found on the Uniformis website and parents can agree the best way to collect the goods, e.g. from the seller’s address or at school pick up. For any second hand uniform queries regarding online parent-to-parent sales, please see the Contact Us page on the Uniformis website or email support@uniformis.online
Fundraising
FoR is delighted to be part of Savills’ rebate scheme. If you choose to sell or let your property through Savills Esher, Savills will donate £1,000 (£300 for lettings) of their fee to FoR. This deal is open to all Rowan parents plus wider friends and family too so please spread the word! *T&Cs apply.
FoR is registered with easyfundraising which means over 7,000 brands will donate to FoR when you use easyfundraising to shop with them online. It’s easy and completely FREE! Brands include John Lewis, eBay, Tesco, trainline, Amazon, Argos, Etsy, JustEat, M&S and thousands more. These donations really mount up, so please sign up to support FoR at https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/friendsofrowan/
Many other companies also have commission schemes in place to benefit PTAs and other charitable organisations. By simply clicking or entering a code when you purchase items online, FoR will directly benefit, at no extra cost to you. FoR keep parents updated on how much is generated with their support.
For further details of these commission schemes as well as local retailer discounts available to Rowan parents, please see the attachments below.
Sponsorship
If you would like to promote your business at one of FoR’s exciting events, please do get in touch with them at friends@rowanprepschool.co.uk to discuss sponsorship opportunities.
Useful documents: