Children, young people and families across Buckinghamshire will benefit from the latest round of grants awarded by the Verney Foundation, with a specialist school in Winslow among this year’s recipients.

Chaired by Nicholas Verney, Managing Partner of Claydon Estate, the Trustees of the Verney Foundation met in May to consider this year’s applications and award funding to the Foundation’s 2026 recipients, supporting projects which reflect the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to helping people and places thrive.

Furze Down School

Among this year’s recipients is Furze Down School in Winslow, which has received £10,000 towards the school’s amphitheatre development project.

Furze Down School provides specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs. The school is currently raising funds to transform its outdoor amphitheatre into a more accessible and flexible performance and gathering space for pupils, staff and the wider community.

Fundraising for this project is led by the Friends of Furze Down, who are working towards a target of £60,000. Once complete, the amphitheatre will provide a shaded outdoor area for school performances, assemblies, outdoor learning and community events.

Plans for the space include improved seating and pathways, increased planting for shade, enhanced lighting and sound capabilities, and a dedicated backstage area for performances and technical support. You can read more on the school’s amphitheatre project page.

Nicholas and Alexandra Verney recently visited Furze Down School to learn more about the project, meeting Headteacher Alison Rooney and Business Lead Linda Patterson.

Nicholas said: “Alexandra and I so enjoyed our visit to Furze Down and were hugely impressed with the work they are doing there.  The project to improve their outdoor space, where pupils can gather and performances can be staged, is such a good cause and it is heartening that the Verney Foundation has been able to provide some financial support.  We look forward to staying in touch with the project.”

Speaking to the impact the Verney Foundation’s support will have, Tess Kirkby, Strategic Finance Lead at Furze Down School, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Verney Foundation for its generous support of our amphitheatre project. At Furze Down, we believe that every child and young person deserves the chance to thrive and flourish. Our planned amphitheatre will be so much more than an outdoor performance space. It will enable pupils to develop confidence, express themselves creatively, learn together and celebrate their achievements alongside friends, families and the wider community. This grant brings us a significant step closer to creating a space that will open doors to new experiences for generations of Furze Down pupils, and we are delighted that the Verney Foundation has chosen to be part of that journey.”

Aerial photo of the proposed site for the amphitheatre (Credit: Furze Down School)

The Country Trust

The award to Friends of Furze Down sits within a wider pattern of support for education and young people. At the same meeting, the Trustees also chose to support The Country Trust’s Food Discovery Programme, which gives primary school children, particularly those from urban areas, the chance to visit farms, understand more about where food comes from, grow food for themselves and prepare their own recipes.

The Country Trust has previously received funding from the Foundation and is recognised for its work connecting children from areas of social and economic disadvantage with the land. The latest award will contribute to the continuation of this work, alongside support from other donors.

Closer to Claydon

The Estate also continues to support local education in practical ways. The Circle Centre in Middle Claydon, a specialised nursery helping around 20 pre-school children each year with individualised programmes of support, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. As part of the celebrations, two anniversary gatherings have been held, with the Estate providing space on its land for car parking.

East Claydon School has also benefited from a long-standing relationship with the Estate. Pupils have been able to access Estate woodland for Forest School learning, giving them regular opportunities to spend time outside and learn in a natural environment. Land was also previously made available to increase parking provision for the school, supporting safer and more convenient drop-off, pick-up and staff parking.

More than 20 years of giving

For 25 years, the Verney Foundation – which is independent of Claydon Estate, though the Estate supports much of its administration – has supported charities and good causes across communities local to Claydon and further afield across Buckinghamshire. Its work has included funding for schools, rural community spaces, nature restoration, heritage conservation and local projects designed to make a lasting and positive impact on the community.