The Garwood Foundation

16/12/2025

We had a very exciting Christmas performance last week, with our Rutherford School students taking us on a tour of festive traditions from around the world.

From the UK, our students took us to China, Australia, Russia and Africa. Accompanied by beautiful performances from music therapist Sarah Kong, and volunteer Margaret Archibald, the students did a fantastic job of celebrating a global Christmas.
Our forthcoming graduates closed the performance with a rousing rendition of Ed Sheeran and Elton John's Christmas time, with much audience participation.

Thank you to all the parents and carers for joining us and to the classes for fabulous performances and creativity.

Every ability shines
Building skills and confidence in everything we do, our focus is on what those in our care can achieve. We are a progressive and inclusive charity enabling people living with disabilities to live the fullest lives they can with a school, day centre, and residential home in Croydon.
We Listen. We Care. We Celebrate.
Follow The Garwood Foundation to see us shine with your support.

12/12/2025

Our Christmas Fair is TOMORROW!
We're ready to welcome you 1-3pm at Rutherford School, 1a Melville Avenue.

A hidden gem for homemade gifts, raffle tombola, with festive riders and bikes from Phoenix Motorcycle Training Ltd's Club toy run too.
All event details here: https://fb.me/e/5o6LIPg92
See you there!

Every ability shines
Building skills and confidence in everything we do, our focus is on what those in our care can achieve. We are a progressive and inclusive charity enabling people living with disabilities to live the fullest lives they can with a school, day centre, and residential home in Croydon.
We Listen. We Care. We Celebrate.
Follow The Garwood Foundation to see us shine with your support.

11/12/2025

The joy of music is clear to see with some of our Bramley Hill participants performing at Orchlab's festival day.
Supporting music-making with disabled adults, Orchlab is run by the London Philharmonic Orchestra in partnership with Drake Music. Throughout the year, participants at our Bramley Hill Day Centre have been enjoying a series of Orchlab workshops culminating in OrchLab’s Festival Day where our participants performed. Khaled Mechergui, Bramley Hill's Manager loves seeing how our participants progress and enjoy Orchlab: “These sessions build confidence and skills as well as being interactive, high energy and fun. Best of all - everybody can take part”.

Every ability shines
Building skills and confidence in everything we do, our focus is on what those in our care can achieve. We are a progressive and inclusive charity enabling people living with disabilities to live the fullest lives they can with a school, day centre, and residential home in Croydon.
We Listen. We Care. We Celebrate.
Follow The Garwood Foundation to see us shine with your support.

10/12/2025

A small sample of some of the beautiful handmade gifts on offer at Rutherford School's Christmas Fair last year…
With plenty more on offer this year along with food, raffle, tombola and lots of festive fun. Please join us on Saturday 1-3pm at Rutherford School. All event details here: https://fb.me/e/5o6LIPg92

Every ability shines
Building skills and confidence in everything we do, our focus is on what those in our care can achieve. We are a progressive and inclusive charity enabling people living with disabilities to live the fullest lives they can with a school, day centre, and residential home in Croydon.
We Listen. We Care. We Celebrate.
Follow The Garwood Foundation to see us shine with your support.

09/12/2025

Thank you to Crystal Palace Football Club fans for supporting our Space to Thrive appeal and having us along for a bucket collection recently. Every little bit of fundraising gets us closer to completing building works at Rutherford School for our students with complex disabilities and we're really grateful for your support.

Every ability shines
Building skills and confidence in everything we do, our focus is on what those in our care can achieve. We are a progressive and inclusive charity enabling people living with disabilities to live the fullest lives they can with a school, day centre, and residential home in Croydon.
We Listen. We Care. We Celebrate.
Follow The Garwood Foundation to see us shine with your support.

08/12/2025

Some of our students from Rutherford School started the Christmas season by attending the Croydon Schools' Music Association Festive Concert last week. Students and staff really enjoyed the singing, dancing, music, and drama all to celebrate Christmas, Diwali and Hanukkah. It was a lovely morning spent with other schools in our local community. Thank you Croydon Music and Arts for having us and sharing such a great celebration.

Every ability shines
Building skills and confidence in everything we do, our focus is on what those in our care can achieve. We are a progressive and inclusive charity enabling people living with disabilities to live the fullest lives they can with a school, day centre, and residential home in Croydon.
We Listen. We Care. We Celebrate.
Follow The Garwood Foundation to see us shine with your support.

03/12/2025

Shout out to Unity Support Riders for making sure the toy run that ends at Rutherford School's Christmas Fair is safe, fun, and unforgettable 💚

Join us 1-3pm on 13th December at Rutherford School for all the fun and festivities - especially when the Phoenix Motorcycle Training Ltd toy run arrives!

Every ability shines
Building skills and confidence in everything we do, our focus is on what those in our care can achieve. We are a progressive and inclusive charity enabling people living with disabilities to live the fullest lives they can with a school, day centre, and residential home in Croydon.
We Listen. We Care. We Celebrate.
Follow The Garwood Foundation to see us shine with your support.

02/12/2025

"On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me"... A brilliant video of Bramley Hill participants enjoying OrchLab!
Supporting music-making with disabled adults, OrchLab is run by the London Philharmonic Orchestra in partnership with Drake Music. Participants at our Bramley Hill Day Centre have been enjoying a series of OrchLab workshops and accessible instruments to make parts of this musical story with Shaftesbury's Brookside House.
Watch and enjoy: https://orchlab.org/orclab-film-2025-a-story/

Every ability shines
Building skills and confidence in everything we do, our focus is on what those in our care can achieve. We are a progressive and inclusive charity enabling people living with disabilities to live the fullest lives they can with a school, day centre, and residential home in Croydon.
We Listen. We Care. We Celebrate.
Follow The Garwood Foundation to see us shine with your support.

In Autumn 2025, OrchLab worked with groups from Bramley Hill Day Centre (Garwood Foundation) and Brookside House (Shaftesbury) on a project inspired by a piece called En Saga by Jean Sibelius Sibelius (1865-1957) was a Finnish composer who often wrote music inspired by the beautiful scenery in Finla...

01/12/2025

Calling all supporters! Could you supply a raffle prize please? Preparations are well under way for our annual Christmas Fair on 13th December (1-3pm if you're planning to join us for all the fun and festivities!)
All proceeds from the fair will contribute to our Space to Thrive appeal completing an extra classroom, new hydrotherapy pool, and accessible community meeting space at Rutherford School.
We're short a few raffle prizes and would very much appreciate your help in finding some. Please contact us if you can help! Send a DM or email rutherford@rutherfordschool.org.uk - Thank you so much.

Every ability shines
Building skills and confidence in everything we do, our focus is on what those in our care can achieve. We are a progressive and inclusive charity enabling people living with disabilities to live the fullest lives they can with a school, day centre, and residential home in Croydon.
We Listen. We Care. We Celebrate.
Follow The Garwood Foundation to see us shine with your support.

27/11/2025

We really did put a garden on top of our swimming pool... In this month's build progress at Rutherford School our living roof was installed alongside the air source heat pump and sky lights. Below it, on the inside, the hydrotherapy pool was being tiled.

We can't quite believe it's been a year since we started the works as time has flown and so has the progress. We've got about six months of build work left and to raise the last funds we need to complete it. We're in the final stretch raising £30,000. Please consider making a donation to support our students with disabilities to get the space to thrive they deserve.

Our Space to Thrive will provide a new hydrotherapy pool, additional classroom and accessible meeting space for students with complex disabilities and our local community - and you can be part of it!
Donate to build a Space to Thrive today: https://garwoodfoundation.org.uk/donate

Every ability shines
Building skills and confidence in everything we do, our focus is on what those in our care can achieve. We are a progressive and inclusive charity enabling people living with disabilities to live the fullest lives they can with a school, day centre, and residential home in Croydon.
We Listen. We Care. We Celebrate.
Follow The Garwood Foundation to see us shine with your support.

26/11/2025

"We tried our wet suits for a lake swim. Too difficult by far we found. So we braced ourselves to brave it with our cossies and a light Lycra jacket. All went well. And we managed to do it without being the last. A very happy ending and a real sense of achievement."

Mary Saunders, 74 years young and a birthday the day before, swam Serpentine 2025 in aid of Garwood's Space to Thrive appeal and loved every minute. You can be part of Team Garwood for 2026. Sign up now: https://garwoodfoundation.org.uk/swim-serpentine

Every ability shines
Building skills and confidence in everything we do, our focus is on what those in our care can achieve. We are a progressive and inclusive charity enabling people living with disabilities to live the fullest lives they can with a school, day centre, and residential home in Croydon.
We Listen. We Care. We Celebrate.
Follow The Garwood Foundation to see us shine with your support.

21/11/2025

We're looking for someone with hands on skills and experience to join our team at Rutherford School in South Croydon as our Caretaker. We've extended the applications so please do share this anyone local you think would be a good fit, or might know someone that is.
To apply email a CV and cover letter to human.resources@garwoodfoundation.org.uk. Applications will be reviewed as they arrive.
Full job description is on our website here: https://garwoodfoundation.org.uk/jobs-careers

Every ability shines
Building skills and confidence in everything we do, our focus is on what those in our care can achieve. We are a progressive and inclusive charity enabling people living with disabilities to live the fullest lives they can with a school, day centre, and residential home in Croydon.
We Listen. We Care. We Celebrate.
Follow The Garwood Foundation to see us shine with your support.