Jamal’s junior school teacher contacted Let June to see if we could help fund his participation in a residential trip to Cliffe House in Shepley, Huddersfield. Jamal has a difficult family background and now lives away from the family home with another relative. He has no contact with his parents and the school believes that the experience left him with a great deal of emotional trauma.

The school wanted Jamal to attend the trip to help his build confidence and also to help with his mental wellbeing. We were pleased to fund the trip and the total cost for two nights was £120.

After the trip, we were delighted to hear from the teacher who told us:

“Jamal had a wonderful time and made many memories which he still talks about in class today. He attended all of the activities and was always willing to help other children”.

Jack is the eldest of three children and helps his parents care for his siblings, who both have long term disabilities. Jack’s caring responsibilities means that he has little time to spend with his friends which often leads to him feeling isolated at school.

Let June was contacted by The Outward Bound Association to see if we could help support him to attend one of their week long Serious Adventure residential courses. We were delighted to be able to fund this and Jack described the week as “one of the best experiences of my life”.

The break this gave Jack from his caring responsibilities enabled him to create lasting friendships and challenged him in ways that he hadn’t experienced before.

Let June is committed to helping not just students in full time school education but we are also pleased to make awards to under 18s who are looking at undertaking vocational courses at local colleges or in the workplace. An example of this was when we helped Amina (16) following an application from a local hair and beauty training centre. Amina had already succeeded in the first two levels of a bridal make up course and successful completion of level three would enable her to become self-employed as a professional make up artist.

Amina received funding from a Government scheme for the first two levels but no funding was available for level three. Let June was approached to help with the cost of the level three course and we were happy to make an award. She subsequently completed the course and is now starting to develop her own client list.

A local children’s centre got in touch with Let June to ask if we could consider funding a laptop for Alfie. Alfie has a medical condition which makes writing very difficult and painful. This was affecting his schoolwork, as he needs to make regular trips to hospital for treatment. It was hoped that he could use the computer at home to help him catch up at school and help rebuild his self-confidence.

We met with Alfie’s support worker and this enabled us to understand more about their work with his family and how the laptop will help Alfie in the long term. We were delighted to make the award and we are pleased to continue to work with the children’s centre.

Let June has supported several children and young people to enable them to join with their friends in a range of residential school trips. One of these grants involved helping 15-year-old Emma to take a school trip to France combining an intensive language course and the development of life skills.

Emma’s year had been particularly difficult. She had lost a parent which had led to her needing to take a prolonged period of absence from school and this had affected her studies. The school believed that tuition abroad would be of huge benefit in her preparation for GCSE French and that the work experience/hospitality skills she gained would go towards increasing her confidence. To fund the trip, her school worked with several co-funders to help with the overall cost and they approached us to see if we could contribute towards the travel costs.

The trip went ahead and the school told us that the trip was a big success. Emma had been able to confront and overcome some of her fears, increase her general confidence level and improve her social interactions with the other students. She also developed a talent for French cooking!

Heba’s primary school approached us to ask if we would help fund a folding play den. Heba has complex physical needs and she spends much of her time at school in a wheelchair. In lessons, she sits on the floor and accesses learning through toys and other activities.

The school had identified that a folding play den would provide Heba with more independence, a safe space and a further opportunity to learn in a position where she feels most comfortable. We were happy to make an award for this and the school followed up with us with the following feedback:

“Heba loves her den. She now has her favourite toys inside and her friends love playing with her in there. All you can hear is giggling from the outside!”

We can consider funding learning tools/aids in situations where these may be helpful for a medical or emotional need.