Duke of Edinburgh Award

On behalf of Friends of Discovery Academy School (FDAS), I am writing to invite your company to support a vital campaign that will help fund our students’ participation in the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Discovery Academy is a special school for 110 children aged 7–16 with autism, many of whom face additional challenges such as epilepsy, diabetes, and emotional health issues. Our students come from across Sheffield, predominantly from areas with high levels of deprivation. Due to their complex needs, they are often socially isolated and unable to access mainstream extracurricular activities like Scouts or youth clubs.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award offers our students a rare opportunity to build confidence, resilience, and life skills in a structured and supportive environment. For neurodiverse young people, it is a recognised achievement that can open doors to future employment and volunteering opportunities.

A key part of the Award is a residential experience. For our students, this requires a specialist setting with a high staff-to-student ratio and appropriate facilities to support their health and care needs. We are planning to take up to 30 students on a residential at a cost of £250 per child. FDAS and the school have committed to funding half of the total and we are seeking support to raise the remainder to ensure children from our poorest families can take part. 

We would be delighted if your company could partner with us. In return for your sponsorship, we would be pleased to feature your logo on our website, acknowledge your support in our newsletter and social media, and include your company name on a plaque commemorating the project.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students. I would be happy to discuss the project further and answer any questions you may have.

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Friends of Discovery School is a group of parents, carers and friends trying to raise funds for Discovery School, a special school for children with autism. Discovery is an inner-city school, based at the foot of one of the largest council estates in Sheffield. Our children come from all over the city from areas with highest deprivation index. We have more than twice the number of children on free school meals than the national average and our families cannot afford to contribute to the extra curricular activities that most schools take for granted. It is also well known that autistic children are comparatively socially isolated and Discovery children depend upon school to provide the activities such as a cycle club, sports activities, a youth club that are normally found in local communities at low or no cost. Consequently FDAS has to continously fundraise for our autistic children to participate in social events organised by school that are well beyond the scope of the school budget.