At Blueprint for All, our mission is to create a fairer and more inclusive society. This is only possible thanks to the people who support us in our ambition and commitment to the future. Individual donors and fundraisers play a fundamental role in bringing our vision to life. Through their generosity, they help us create tangible opportunities for young people and communities.

We’re incredibly lucky to have supporters like Martine.  

Martine qualified as a history teacher in 1988 and has spent over thirty years teaching at Burnham Grammar School near Slough. This year, Martine marked her retirement by starting a fundraiser instead of receiving a gift.

We caught up with Martine to share a little more of her story.  

“I have taught at Burnham Grammar School since September 1991. I live in St Albans with my daughter, who has also recently qualified as a teacher. I am a practising Catholic, and I always try my best to help others and donate to charity when I can. 

I can’t remember exactly how I came across Blueprint for All. But I know that it was during Covid-19 and the Black Lives Matter campaign in 2020. I started reflecting on what I could do to help challenge inequality. And I decided to make a regular small donation to Blueprint for All.

Promoting inclusion and ensuring that everyone can access the same opportunities and life chances really resonated with me. And it is something that we always try to do at Burnham Grammar. It means a great deal to know that my regular contribution might make a difference to someone. ” 

Regarding her retirement fundraiser, Martine shared:  

“I thought that it would be great for any money to go towards a good cause linked to education. That would be the perfect way to continue to promote Burnham Grammar’s values and ethos. I have been very humbled by the donations that people have made on the JustGiving page. It gives me great satisfaction to know that I can still make a difference even when ending my teaching career. 

I would thoroughly recommend that people donate to Blueprint for All or consider hosting a fundraiser. My Head of Department set everything up on my behalf. But he was able to do so very easily, and there has been a lot of encouragement and thanks from those at the charity.” 

We wish Martine the best in her retirement, and thank her wholeheartedly for her sustained conviction in our cause.  

Inspired by Martine’s story? We’ll help you take the next step. Whether it’s setting up a fundraiser, becoming a regular donor, or spreading the word about our work.

Only by staying together and focused will we make the next, however small, step towards a more inclusive future.