Trinity’s community groups thrive across all campuses
The Trinity community is wide, encompassing students, staff, parents, alumni, and past staff – not to mention the local community surrounding each of the School’s campuses. Each facet of this community is so valuable to the life of the School, contributing in ways big and small, seen and unseen.
The Parents & Friends’ Association (commonly referred to as the P&F) is one such part of the Trinity community. An umbrella under which each of the campus’ Auxiliary groups sits, the P&F is an avenue through which fundraising, community events, and connection, can be cultivated and the community’s voice can be heard.
The P&F meets monthly, as do the Preparatory, Junior and Summer Hill Auxiliary Groups and Trinity’s parents, friends, and guardians, are all invited to attend.
Mr Stephen Heanly says that coming along to a meeting can be the best way to get involved in life at the School and know what’s going on around each of the campuses.
He says that in the past, P&F meetings were a forum where community members would come to raise any issues. He says that’s not the case anymore.
“Should a parent ever have a concern, they should feel comfortable to reach out to the relevant department about that concern immediately,” he says, referring to issues related to the curriculum, pastoral care, etc. “They shouldn’t wait until the next P&F to tell us about it. Things used to be like this, but in this day and age, we want them to address any concerns or any questions immediately.”
Instead, he says that P&F meetings are an opportunity to “develop a greater understanding of the School and explore opportunities to contribute to the life of the School.”
Each of Trinity’s Auxiliary Groups focus on one of the campuses and their meetings are often focused on activities happening on their particular campus.
Ms Larnie Padmore is a part of the Summer Hill Auxiliary Group and is finishing up her involvement, in line with her son finishing his final year of Trinity at the end of 2025.
She says she originally joined the P&F six years ago to learn more about the current and future planning for the students and Trinity as a School.
“I felt compelled to give back to the School for providing my son an education far beyond my experience of schooling,” she says. “Helping out at School barbecues, stalls, and events has allowed me to meet many other parents from all walks of life and enjoy being part of the School community.”
Ms Padmore recalls many events and experiences where she’s seen the Trinity community come together to make a difference and support each other. These range from annual events run by the Summer Hill Auxiliary such as the Trinity Mothers Dinner, Trivia Night, Year 7–8 Mothers & Sons Dinner, Year 10-11 Mothers & Sons Breakfast, and the Year 12 Mothers Farewell Dinner, to chance encounters that have warmed her heart.
When her son travelled to Cambridge, UK to compete in the British Parliament Debating Competition, a Trinity Old Boy heard through the grapevine that he would be there.
“He was on hand to support his Trinity ‘brothers’,” she recalls. “The future of our boys is solid and bright knowing they have a network of successful Trinitarians willing and able to support their younger Trinitarian endeavours.”
“The School offers a lifetime of support for our boys within an outstanding worldwide community. I hope more parents can experience the joy of helping the School embrace community spirit.”
Encouraging the Trinity community to get involved in meetings, Ms Padmore says that everyone has an important part to play in School planning.
“People do not need official qualifications, just attending and providing an opinion or suggesting a different idea, or even asking a simple question can prompt the School to make small or significant adjustments to suit the everchanging needs of our community.
“The answers to your questions may not be addressed or answered correctly on unofficial social platforms. It is always best to ask the School directly, and one of the many pathways to connect can be via the P&F or Auxiliary community meetings. They are relaxed, non-confrontational, and welcoming to everyone. The more, the merrier!”
All information about Auxiliary meetings can be found on Insite, as well as the roles and aims of all the organisations underneath the banner of the P&F.
“Parents have an important role in the School, we value the P&F’s contribution in regards to giving an insight into how the parent body is feeling around the School, the tone, and decisions that are being made,” Mr Heanly says. “Come and hear from the Headmaster, listen to what the P&F are up to, and discover any initiatives that are coming up that you might want to get involved with.”
