Update from the Director of Development, Laura-Jane

What have you enjoyed most about being Director of Development at Loughborough Schools Foundation?

I’ve enjoyed being part of a passionate team who are deeply committed to building a thriving alumni community and helping to change young people’s lives through education. We’ve worked so well together and delivered great results through commitment, creative thinking, grit, and hard graft. I couldn’t wish for better colleagues who I am glad to also call friends.

Do you have a standout memory from your time here?

There are so many wonderful memories. The highlights are when I’ve worked with our alumni and supporter community. Six that stand out most for me are the Bob Griffiths Memorial Lecture driven forward by Stephen Smith, seeing the home fly-half Joe kick a 51m penalty that bounced off the crossbar to win the rugby game against Notts High, creating our first donor impact report, bringing the 1495 Society together for dinner in the Tower, John’s incredible history talks and the first time I experienced Tableaux – nothing could prepare me! I will never forget these moments. So many smiles.

What will you miss most about working here?

I will miss the people, authentic values, and limitless potential. Most of all, I have loved getting to know the people and have felt so welcomed by everyone I have met. Our staff and pupils are simply amazing – caring, conscientious, hardworking, and honest. I have made some lifelong friends and I will miss seeing them at events and working with them terribly. All of our alumni – especially those who I have got to know closely (you know who you are), John Weitzel, Christine Todd, Sister Celine… the list goes on. I will also miss the beauty and serenity of the grounds – the smell of the lime trees on Burton Walks, acrobatic squirrels, lunchtime music concerts, school plays and the roar of the crowd at sports matches.

What is your proudest achievement from your time as Director of Development?

One of the most rewarding projects I worked on was creating bursaries for children fleeing the war in Ukraine. I remember watching the war unfold on the news and feeling compelled to do something to help. As a school we were being approached by parents in desperate need and our pupils were collecting items to send to people who had lost everything. I remember being approached by a widowed mother who had escaped fighting in Mariupol and travelled through many different countries to find refuge with her young children. We had awarded every penny of bursary funding to bright local children from deserving backgrounds earlier in the year and I was desperate to find someone who was in a position to help these kids. I worked day and night reaching out to different people and didn’t stop until we found a match. The most humbling experience has been getting to know these children and their families over the last 13 months and seeing how they have overcome so many barriers – from dealing with bereavement and displacement to having to make new friends and learning to speak and write in English. Witnessing their growth and achievements puts life in perspective. Every one of these pupils has grown in confidence and flourished in their individual passions, from auditioning to perform a solo in the school dance show to excelling in sports and developing their talents in art and STEM subjects. It is the most inspiring project I have ever been part of, and I am so proud of these kids.

Can you tell us a bit more about your new role?

I will be Associate Head of Philanthropy – Principal Gifts at the University of Warwick. It’s an interesting role helping to break down barriers to education and working with worldclass academics to advance global research addressing some of our planet’s biggest challenges. The role will also involve travel to India which is somewhere I have never been before and always wanted to experience!

We hope you will join us in wishing Laura-Jane the best of luck as she leaves LSF!