Focused on helping children and young people meet their aspirations and lead fulfilled and happy lives.
We work with schools and local charities by funding innovative projects in education and young people’s mental health. Our help creates an environment which broadens young people’s horizons and gives them hope and optimism about their futures.
The John & Hilary Pritchard Trust is a registered charity (No 1162911).
LIFTOFF is the working, grant-giving, name of The John & Hilary Pritchard Trust,
a registered charity.
Current projects
We’ve restored a Georgian landmark property and created a new building in the heart of Emsworth, Hampshire. This is LIFTOff – a unique collaboration between Park Community School, Havant, Bishop Luffa School, Chichester, and the Trust. In time it is envisaged that students from other schools will also have access to the faculty.
Students at risk of falling out of mainstream education are taught using creative methods, including one-to-one support. There is compelling evidence that this approach delivered in a non-threatening environment develops self-esteem and improves ability to engage in wider settings. The bespoke teaching, especially for younger students, shows that early intervention makes a big difference to happiness and wellbeing, performance and prowess.
This is a pioneering approach to widening education for those who find learning challenging. Real World Learning works with Emsworth’s local interest groups to help students discover more about life in its widest sense and take pride in contributing to their surroundings. The teaching methods nurture exploration and create resilience in which practical learning plays an important part.
The new Real World Learning building accommodates creativity – painting, model making, carpentry, sculpting, weaving music, even plastering, plumbing and bricklaying. All of this and more designed to capture interest, introduce new skills, develop teamwork, build leadership and nurture hobbies.
Students explore nature and sustainability, cultivate plants and vegetables for the kitchen, and participate in sailing and canoeing. These and other activities draw from Emsworth’s community strengths. They enhance and improve the learning experience by introducing students to subjects which widen their horizons in ways not possible in their usual environments.
The Real World Learning Centre and its shop front is available to other charities with connections to the Trust.
LIFTOFF Emsworth is funded by us through the purchase and provision of the buildings and site, as well as with partial staff-funding.
We envisage LIFTOFF Emsworth as the first in a chain of similar educational facilities. We are interested in hearing from other school-partnerships that would be interested in developing their own local LIFTOFF facilities.
Launchpad Lavant
Working with Bishop Luffa School, we fund a Key Stage 2/3 teacher whose focus is on children transitioning from primary to secondary education and including important outreach support.
Launchpad’s first Ofsted report ranked as ‘outstanding’ with 90% of students returning to mainstream education or vocational training.
“As a school, we wanted to extend our support for vulnerable young children, not only to offer them a second chance, but also to give them the tools to make the most of that opportunity. The generous support of The John & Hilary Pritchard Trust enabled us to turn our vision of a dedicated Key Stage 3 Alternative Education Teacher, who has the time to equip children with the skills to succeed, into reality.
With the incredible support of The John & Hilary Pritchard Trust, through the creation of high-quality, tailored facilities, they are helping us remove barriers for vulnerable children and fill the gaps left by an overstretched local system. Their partnership and can-do attitude have been exciting and refreshing, enabling us to focus on innovative solutions that truly support students.”
Steve Williams
Deputy Head, Inclusion & Safeguarding,
Bishop Luffa School
Chichester Young People’s Shop
We provide an unrestricted grant to support new initiatives which would not receive help from elsewhere until such time as they become embedded in the charity’s mainstream services. We also assist with rent for the charity’s central City location.
“In 2017 the Young People’s Shop (YPS), then known as the Chichester Information Shop for Young People, was a tiny operation based in cramped and unsatisfactory premises in Chichester trying to deliver emotional and mental health support for young people on a very limited budget. Late in 2017 the John & Hilary Pritchard Trust gave our charity a vital boost at a time when we needed it most. Their funding enabled us to expand the scale of our operation and secure our new premises in South Street, which was absolutely fundamental in providing the solid foundation we needed to nurture and grow, into what it is today. Since then, the Trust has continued to stand alongside YPS, offering further support. Importantly, they have also provided us with unrestricted funds, which are invaluable for any charity. This flexibility allows us to respond directly to the needs of young people and ensure we can offer them the very best support.”
Richard Lang
Former Chair of Trustees
Off The Record: Havant
We provide an unrestricted grant to pump-prime and pilot projects at their earliest stages, aimed at helping young people and their families.
“The John & Hilary Pritchard Trust’s funding is pivotal in supporting young people in our community to access free counselling. This support enables us to keep our waiting list low, ensuring that young people receive the assistance they need without a lengthy waiting time. In addition to assisting with our core counselling and outreach groupwork services in secondary schools, the trust’s funding has positioned us to establish community outposts, effectively breaking down barriers to access. We are committed to meeting the evolving needs of our community with a comprehensive approach that includes listening to the voice of young people through a newly established youth board, support for parents through group work, counselling, and family counselling which the trusts unrestrictive funding has enabled us to develop.”
Corniche Plumridge,
Chief Executive
Off the Record
Cobnor Activities Centre Trust
We have funded their new adventure course, The Pritchard Adventure Course, offering a variety of exciting multi-activity outdoor climbing challenges.
“The John & Hilary Pritchard Trust’s donation to Cobnor Activities Centre (CACT) made an amazing difference. The donation allowed CACT to build its new high ropes Adventure Course which was specifically designed to be accessible to all. We have already seen the impact the facility has had on many children of all backgrounds and abilities by the looks in their eyes as they reach higher than they ever thought they could.”
Jeremy Drummond
Trustee
Park Community School
We have funded a welding and a hair and beauty course to introduce new skills for students to take up vocational training later in their career. We support an outdoor catering facility aimed at getting children cooking and are working with the school on other needs.
“Students were delighted to cook outside this week with pizza ovens that were funded by the John & Hilary Pritchard Trust. They prepared and cooked pitta breads that were served at lunch. Of course, they had to test the recipe and try the first ones themselves! Students grew in confidence very quickly and soon had a little production line going with some rolling and putting into the ovens, with others turning and taking them from the oven to cool.
We are excited to announce that, thanks to a generous donation from the John & Hilary Pritchard Trust, we now have the facilities to learn all about welding at The Apex Centre. Students have enjoyed their trial sessions and are now poised to develop their skills.
Our City in Guilds Hair and Beauty course is now benefitting over 60 students in Years 10 and 11. Students are spending time learning about technical processes and applying them in real contexts. Younger students have also had regular taster sessions and enjoy attending Hair and Beauty club after school. We are grateful to the trust for their kind donation which supported us in developing this course and giving our students a professional salon experience on our school site.”
Ella Capaldi
Head of School
Park Community School
We also contribute to other local charities, including South Downs Trust (to support outdoor learning sessions) and Chichester Festival Theatre.
- Creating an innovative faculty, encouraging students back into mainstream education
- A LIFTOFF collaboration between Bishop Luffa School, Chichester and Park Community School, Havant
- Restored 18th century building, plus new Real World Learning community space
- Opened January 2026