In 1995 in a town called Kalimpong in the Himalayan foothills of India, I made friends with a young woman and teacher called Praveena Agarwal. In the evenings she would teach a young boy called Abinash whose family could not afford to send him to school, but they desperately wanted him to learn. Praveena asked me if I could find a donor in England to pay for Abinash’s schooling, and so I approached my family church in Woodbridge, Suffolk, and they kindly agreed.

Twenty-nine years later and Praveena now runs a small school for 20-30 children from very disadvantaged backgrounds. By covering the costs of uniforms, transport, lunch and books, St Anne’s Charity School provides a stepping stone for struggling families who would otherwise not consider it possible for their children to enjoy their right to an education. After a few years at St Anne’s School the children transition to government schools, by which time their parents are often motivated enough to support their educational costs. Where this is not possible, the School continues to support the families financially.

In August 2024 I returned to Kalimpong to meet some of the families whose lives have been changed by St Anne’s School. For some parents their children are the first generation in their families to receive a formal education. For such a small charity the School is having a huge impact.

I want to help St Anne’s School by doing a sponsored cold-water wild swim in English lakes and the sea during the winter. I will swim the distance across the English Channel – 34 km – between September 2024 and May 2025. The water temperature will vary between approximately 2-15° Celsius and I will not wear a wetsuit. I will give regular updates of how my swimming is going and I would be very grateful for any support you can provide to help children in India get an education.

The funds I raise need to be channelled through a UK charity. The Catholic Diocese of East Anglia and my family church’s ‘Abinash Fund’ has provided a long-term and trusted conduit through which this can happen. It also means we can collect Gift Aid on all donations from UK taxpayers. 100% of the funds I raise will go to St Anne’s Charity School in India. Finally, it is important to say that St Anne’s School is not a religious school; it supports disadvantaged children from all backgrounds and faiths.

Thank you for your help!