Martyn Gerrard Estate Agents have announced that they will offer full financial support for local schools, despite the cancellation of annual school fairs and fundraising events, to ensure that PTA funds do not suffer as a result of Coronavirus cancellations.

Normally, the weeks before the summer holidays see Parent Teacher Associations across London hold school fairs and fundraising events to raise money they use throughout the following school year to fund playground equipment, materials and resources for pupils that school’s normal budgets cannot cover. However, as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic none of these are able to take place. This comes at a time when many schools require more support than ever to adapt their teaching to social distancing measures and support children as they return from a long absence from the classroom.

As well as providing their usual level of financial support, in spite of the fact the sponsorship events are not taking place, the Martyn Gerrard team have established Just Giving pages for each of their twelve schools, with the goal of reaching the amount that PTA’s would normally raise as a result of summer fairs. Depending on the size of the school, this ranges anywhere from £10,000 to £35,000. They are asking parents and the wider community to donate what they might normally spend at those fairs on food and entertainment, in reflection of the appreciation so many feel post-lockdown for the essential role that teachers and schools play in supporting pupil’s physical and mental well-being.

Martyn Gerrard were one of the first agents to support schools, featuring in the national press when they started with St. Mary’s C.E. Primary School in Finchley nearly 20 years ago. They now support a plethora of schools across the area, including; Coleridge Primary School, Osidge Primary School, Christ Church C.E. Primary School, Highgate School, Fortismere School, Camden School for Girls, Wren Academy, St. John’s School and Church, Woodridge, Grange Park Prep and Moss Hall Schools.

They are calling on communities across London to recognise the need for additional financial support at schools dealing with the aftermath of lockdown and many children who have seen such a big disruption to their education.