Eleven charities, schools and community organisations have received funding through the 2026 Pangbourne College Community Fund, helping to deliver projects that will make a lasting difference to the lives of children and young people across Berkshire and the surrounding region.

Made possible through the generosity of the Pangbournian Community the annual Community Fund supports initiatives that broaden educational opportunities, improve wellbeing, develop life skills and strengthen local communities.

This year's grants will support an inspiring range of projects, from literacy programmes and bereavement support to environmental education, outdoor learning and practical skills for young people facing disadvantage.

The 2026 Community Fund recipients are:

• Assisting Berkshire Children to Read – supporting volunteer-led literacy programmes for children who need extra help with reading.
• Andrew Simpson Foundation – delivering sustainability education that encourages environmental awareness and leadership.
• West Berkshire Foodbank – supporting the Rolling Out Recipes project, helping families and young people build confidence in cooking and nutrition.
• Five A Day Garden – delivering the Kids Go Green 2026 initiative, connecting young people with nature and healthy living.
• Bridge for Young People – supporting the BFYP Has Talent programme, promoting confidence, creativity and personal development.
• Daisy's Dream – providing emotional support for children and young people affected by bereavement.
• The Waterside Youth & Community Centre – replacing paddling equipment to ensure young people can continue taking part in outdoor learning and water-based activities.
• Step by Step – providing educational resources for young people experiencing homelessness.
• Friends of Downsway Primary School – creating The Reading Shed to encourage reading for pleasure.
• Englefield CE Primary School PTA – establishing a beekeeping project that brings science, biodiversity and sustainability to life.
• Prior's Court Foundation – developing all-weather outdoor classrooms for young people with complex autism.

The Community Fund reflects Pangbourne College's belief that education extends far beyond the classroom. By investing in local organisations, the College is helping to create opportunities for young people to flourish academically, socially and emotionally while strengthening the communities in which they live.

Oliver Knight, Head of Pangbourne College, said:

"Education is about far more than what happens in the classroom. Young people develop through the opportunities they are given to contribute, to serve others and to engage with the wider world around them. These organisations are providing exactly those opportunities, helping children and young people build confidence, develop new skills and broaden their horizons in ways that will have a lasting impact.

"Community is one of the four pillars of a Pangbourne education and our pupils understand that they have a responsibility to leave a positive mark on the world around them. The Community Fund is one way in which their fundraising efforts, together with the generosity of our wider Pangbournian community, can support outstanding local organisations that are making a real difference to the lives of young people."

The Community Fund is supported through fundraising by the wider Pangbournian Community and forms part of the College's wider commitment to creating positive social impact. Alongside local initiatives, the Fund also continues to support the College's long-standing partnership with the Nabugabo Community Learning Centre in Uganda, helping sponsor pupils as they progress to St Kizito Secondary School.

To celebrate this year's awards, all grant recipients have been invited to a Community Fund Coffee Morning at Pangbourne College on Monday 14 September. The event will provide an opportunity for organisations to meet one another, share ideas, learn more about the projects being supported and celebrate the collective impact of the Community Fund.

Applications for the 2027 Pangbourne College Community Fund are now open. Schools, charities and community organisations working with children and young people are encouraged to apply and join a growing network of organisations making a meaningful difference across the region.