Friends of Five Acre Wood and Grow19
Report on the accounts for the year ending 31st August 2025
The Friends of Five Acre Wood and Grow 19 advance the learning and opportunities for the students at Five Acre Wood and Grow 19.
They do this by:
-
Developing effective relationships between the staff, parents, carers and others associated with both institutions
-
Engaging in fundraising activities, including grant applications and event organisation that will provide additional, non-statutorily funded resources and income for the students at Five Acre Wood and Grow 19
Five Acre Wood School is a foundation special school for children and young people with profound, severe and complex needs aged from 5-19 with the main site in Maidstone and satellite provisions at St Katherines and Holmesdale School, Snodland Kent and Oxford Road, Kent. There are over 860 students at the school. Grow 19 is an SPI College for young adults with learning difficulties aged from 19 -25.
Actvites over the year
Five Acre Wood Charity football match
Our annual Charity Football Match is always one of the highlights of the school calendar – and this year, our third in a row, was no exception! Over 400 people came along to cheer on our brilliant FAW team, made up of staff, parents, and members of the wider community, as they took on the incredible team of staff and volunteers from Maidstone United and Stones in the Community.
Every penny raised from the event goes directly towards funding the inclusive football sessions delivered by Stones in the Community – sessions that are specially adapted to ensure that all our pupils can take part, regardless of their ability. The evening raised an incredible £4526.75, all of which will go straight back into making inclusive sport possible for our pupils.
The FAWbulous Projects
This year we celebrated the launch of several pioneering projects. The event began with inspiring speeches from staff, supporters, and pupils, followed by entertainment from our fabulous signing choir, before guests toured the school to see the new ventures now complete, all of which have been supported through donations in kind, grant applications, Crowd Funding and community fundraising.
Our new additions include the FAWbulous Bus, a double-decker soft play bus generously donated by Norman and the team at Nu-Venture and brought to life through the support of trustees, fundraisers, and many more.
Guests also explored the 7FAW7, a former Airbus A319 transformed into a fully accessible library inspiring a love of reading. This visionary project, repurposing a fuselage to overcome our spatial constraints, has created a cost-effective, inspiring space that enriches our school environment. Just as the aircraft once took people on journeys across Europe, it now takes our pupils on journeys of discovery.
We also unveiled the FAWtilus, once a freefall lifeboat, now a distinctive counselling space supporting mental health and wellbeing. Its playful, imaginative design makes counselling feel welcoming rather than intimidating, helping to break down barriers around seeking support.
Another exciting addition is Platform FAW, a hands-on learning space where pupils will master realworld production skills in coffee roasting – making us one of only two schools in Europe with a roastery.
Report prepared by Hannah Juden, 14[th] October 2025
Friends ol FiveA(re Wood Sch(1 Accounts iorthe r enoin Slst Au st 2ULS Balance Sh Fund b•lar blfwd Re5trirted Fu#d Date Inwme Ew(ttur¢ Yot Unrestricted Communication Aids Horticulture Sensory G3rden Mernory Garden G¢ow19 khool Radio The Yard Minibu5 FAWient Express Double Decker Bus Woodstockl IHadriansl The Willows Football Lessons Maidstone United Acorns ILuckyBallsl Yard AccÈss Mug2 Plane Ubrary The Fawrient Roastery Therapy Bus FAWGyrn £5.975_(M) £2.527.91 £J52.95 £341.34 £602.LK) £1.236_72 £i,DW.OD £3.483.96 £1.376.75 £4,219.69 £28.356.83 £13.869.36 £6.OW.00 £7,094.78 £2.004.07 £1,541.06 £94.33 £18.0(K>.00 £O.(M) £O.(M) £O.(M) £19.466.05 £O.(K) £O.(K> £6,982.40 £Q.LK) £o.ry) £O.(M) £2.452.89 £431.98 £51,541.16 £42.022.(M) £5,379.73 £2,OLKI.00 £1.556_(M) £50.00 £o.(M) £o.(K) £8.019.90 £6.814.51 500.LK) £1.902.26 -£17.222.27 £O.C>D £0.00 -£1.914.45 £0.00 £O.OD -£59.49 -£5,681.27 -£1.738.73 -£54,908.52 -£45.228.04 -£2,878.12 -£4,165.92 -£7.352.53 -£1.128.39 £0.00 £0.00 -£17.096.4L -£6,814.51 £0.00 £0.00 £8,218.78 £2.527.91 £152.95 £5.409.29 £602.00 1,236.72 £940.51 £255.58 £70.00 £852.33 É25.150.79 £16.370.97 £3,834.08 £1,298.25 £925.68 £1.541.06 £94.33 £8.923.49 £0.00 £5.00 £1,902.26 £0.00 £0.00 £80A06.98 £97A76.75 f149.118A8 4166.1885 Balantr bfvd £97.876.75 In year surplus 17,[9.7? Cash at bank £80,.98 ResEricted Furkn15 £80.806.98 Unresfficted FurKIs £0.00 Totsl Funds £80,806.98 red by.. Trustee appT(val.. DatÈ: ..L3.J_iO I1S_ .._........ c tts pa's -(-
n-4 1134111
-14> gq9 ) (
4-1>4>
Q*
ci4(n Iiillll