John Whitgift Foundation has been serving Croydon for over 425 years and we’re proud of the work we do in our community, but did you know that we have nine locations in Croydon? Follow our journey around the town and see how many you recognise.
Our Foundation began in 1596 when our founder, Archbishop John Whitgift, decided to leave a legacy that would see the people of Croydon cared for long into the future. Through his legacy, generations of Foundation workers have continued to serve Croydon and provide for the local community through its various branches. It’s through these branches that John Whitgift Foundation gives back to Croydon.
The Foundation Headquarters is located on George Street, Croydon with the head office team working from the Whitgift Almshouses and next-door buildings. Here the Finance, HR, Payroll, Property/Estates and Marketing teams work hard to support all charitable activities.
The independent schools are vital parts of the Foundation and are some of the best in the country with outstanding track records in academics, sports and the arts. The Foundation Schools comprise Whitgift School, Trinity School and Old Palace of John Whitgift School (Pre-School, Prep and Senior Schools) and sixth forms. Through our independent schools, we provide an excellent education focused on strong values and principles that shape our students. Our rich and balanced curriculum provides our students with the skills they need to think independently whilst providing them with outstanding facilities to study in, resulting in an excellent education for students in Croydon. We also run one of the largest bursary funds in the country to widen access to our three Foundation Schools with £7 million offered each year in bursaries and scholarships. This allows us to support 46.4% of students.
For the elderly community, we are committed to creating a caring and welcoming environment in Croydon which we achieve through our three different care settings. From short-stay respites to full-time care and sheltered housing, the Whitgift Care branches of the Foundation exist to provide joy in later living. Our three care settings include Whitgift House, Wilhelmina House and Whitgift Almshouses.
For over 20 years we’ve operated the Carers Information Service to provide free information, advice and support for all the unpaid carers in Croydon. In 2013 we extended this service by opening the Carers Support Centre in partnership with Croydon Council to be the one-stop shop for carers in George Street, Croydon. Today we handle over 25,000 enquiries from carers and professionals every year.
It’s through the continued work of Foundation staff across all nine of our locations that we can continue to care for and serve the people of Croydon as our Founder intended.
