John Badley Foundation
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The full bursary programme has so far transformed the lives of 37 children.
We hope these films, created by former bursary students, will give you a sense of the true impact of the programme.
Old Bedalian Roly Botha shares their story about the life-changing impact receiving a bursary to attend Bedales has had on them and their career as an actor, composer and sound designer. Roly looks back on memories from their five years at the school and the invaluable opportunities it provided.
Listen to Old Bedalian Albie Waterton as he opens up about his time at Bedales and what a JBF bursary meant for him. Now working as an applications engineer, Albie explains how the unforgettable opportunities he had at Bedales have stayed with him.
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"My mother was the one who first introduced me to Bedales. I didn't know about it then, reluctant as I was, I pushed it to the side as a pipedream. I visited for my first open day in 2015, taken around by two 6.2s who welcomed me and told me the ins and outs of the school. I liked it a lot. It gave me the same feeling which I feel now, and I felt this profound feeling in moments during my five years there; hard to explain, harder to pin down. Awe, wonder, hope - even? But at 12, my low confidence didn't allow me to think I could get in with a John Badley Foundation bursary, with tight finances came a very pessimistic outlook. I’d like to thank both my family and Janie Jarman (former Head of Admissions) for changing that. The phone call came, I got the place, I thanked whatever supernatural beings I could think of for giving me this chance to change the direction I was heading, to change it all around.
Hear from Old Bedalian and JBF Trustee Esme Allman as she reflects on her experience as a former recipient of a John Badley Foundation award. A poet, theatre-maker and facilitator, Esme talks about how her time at Bedales enabled her to develop her self confidence and pursue a career in the arts.
Discover the JBF's current fundraising focuses and capital development projects.
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the Art & Design Building and, in 2024, contributed towards the refurbishment of the Sports Hall. The current focus is a fundraising appeal to support the renovation of the Rock Studio into a groundbreaking creative recording space which we hope to make available to students by December 2025.
It's a magical space where countless incredible songs have been written, and unforgettable performances have taken shape.
A comprehensive refurbishment of the Rock Studio is now required, giving future students the chance to build on this legacy and bring their own projects to life.
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All gifts of £3,000 and above are recognised with a personally engraved leaf on the John Badley Foundation Giving Tree in Bedales Senior Reception.
The Giving Tree is a large-scale, specially commissioned bronze oak tree launched in September 2023 to inspire and recognise transformative gifts. With the generosity of the school community, we hope that over time we can fill the tree with 500 oak leaves, simultaneously growing our full bursary programme and the support it provides.
Donate £20,000 for your leaf to hang on the tree forever
Donate £10,000–£19,999 for your leaf to hang on the tree for 10* years
Donate £5,000–£9,999 for your leaf to hang on the tree for five* years
Donate £3,000–£4,999 for your leaf to hang on the tree for three* years
*At the end of this period, you can renew your support to extend the life of your leaf, or we can send you the leaf as a keepsake.
To fulfil your pledge, you could choose to make a one-off or regular gift. For example, a monthly donation of £100 plus Gift Aid would give you a leaf after two years.
In recognition of your support, your leaf will be hand cut in copper or brass and engraved with up to two lines of 16 characters each. You could choose your child’s name and cohort, your family name or any words personal to you.
To make a donation or find out more about the appeal, please contact Tanya Darlow, Director of Development at
development@bedales.org.uk or on 01730 711 662.
If you would like to discuss a legacy gift, a contribution to the endowment fund or support for a specific area of the school.
Please contact our team.
Tanya Darlow, Director of Development:
development@bedales.org.uk or 01730 711 662
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The Trustees meet three times a year to ensure that the John Badley Foundation has a clear strategy and that its work and goals are in line with its vision. They make sure all decisions put the needs of the beneficiaries first and safeguard the John Badley Foundation's assets, ensuring these are used well and that the charity is run sustainably. They delegate the day-to-day running of the charity to the Development team and often devote time outside of meetings to support the team’s work.
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Our dedicated Development team manages the day-to-day running of the JBF, working within Bedales' External Relations department. With a breadth of experience between them, our team members are always happy to help. Find out more about what they do and how to get in touch below.