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Sarah Groves: The Foundation is her "legacy"

Sarah Groves: The Foundation is her

Thursday 06 April 2023

Sarah Groves: The Foundation is her "legacy"

Thursday 06 April 2023


The Sarah Groves Foundation is a charity borne out of a senseless violent tragedy, but her parents say it has become her legacy, with a focus on supporting projects she would have approved of that improve the lives of young people.

The Foundation was launched in the months after Sarah's death, far away from home in Kashmir.

Having been supported by so many people who knew her, as well as strangers, her parents decided to form a new charity to give a focus to those who wished to donate money in her memory.

groves_library.jpg

Pictured: The refurbished children's library was named in Sarah Groves' honour after the Foundation put £50,000 towards the project.

The Foundation was registered as a not-for-profit, charitable trust with the aim of fulfilling Sarah's own ambition in life: 'To enhance the lives of young people, especially of those less fortunate than herself.'

The Foundation's mission statement is ‘enhancing young lives’, with the grants it issues focused on projects concerning children, art, fitness and adventure. Her parents say those were passions of Sarah's which they now strive to deliver on.

"Each one (project supported), we've thought long and hard before we've committed to any of them, and whether it fits with the aims of the Foundation," explained Mrs Groves.

"...enriching the lives of children less privileged than Sarah was. Her life was all about that. I could tell you so many stories about how, if she saw someone crying in the ladies' loos, or someone sitting in a shop doorway in the early hours of the morning... 'I know that lad, and he was suicidal'... and she sat with someone on the Harbour wall who was suicidal. That's the sort of girl she was."

sarah_groves.jpg

Pictured: The plaque bearing Sarah Groves' name at a school in Tanzania. 

Sarah had climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2012 and had volunteered at Mgungani School in Tanzania during the same trip.

Two years later, a year after she had died, 26 people retraced her steps.

That group included Sarah's father, and brother, and friends of hers who together climbed the mountain and re-visited the school.

"I went to the school. I'd love to go back - there's a plaque there (with Sarah's name on)," remembers Mr Groves. 

"They (the children) set off about 6 o'clock and they have to walk all the way and then all the way back. They want to learn. It's an absolutely stunning example of society, a very honest society.

"The children haven't got two pennies, but they're in their pure white little shirts (for school)", added Mrs Groves. 

Sarah Groves Training Ride Silence and Applause

Pictured: Riders on the Tour de Sez bike rides raised many tens of thousands of pounds in her name.

The £7,500 gifted to the Mgungani School is one of a few overseas causes supported by the Sarah Groves Foundation, which is mainly focused on projects in Guernsey.

One of those was the £50,000 donation to the refurbishment of the children's room, named after Sarah, at Guille Alles Library. 

"Isn't it lovely," said Mrs Groves, clearly very proud of the popular facility now enjoyed by many children.

"The education centre at the Victorian Walled Garden that's due to open, that's going to be a Sarah Groves Foundation place too," she said.

Also focused on education, and incorporating her love of art, is the new Art for Guernsey gallery on Mansell Street which the Sarah Groves Foundation has also supported. 

Dancefloor Challenge Sarah Groves Foundation GADA

Pictured: Money has been raised for the Sarah Groves Foundation by many different people and organisations, including through the Dancefloor Challenge.

Speaking to Express while an octopus was on display emerging from the building's upper windows, both Vic and Kate Groves said their daughter would have been very impressed with the new facility.

"Oh she'd have loved it," said Mrs Groves. "She was an artist, she loved art and she won the art prize at school, she went to Chelsea College of Art."

There's a room at the new gallery named after Sarah which her mum said will feature a very special piece of art work

"It's her room and it's the space allocated to the Foundation for children. It's decked out so appropriately and one of Sarah's closest friends is also an artist and she's going to do a portrait of Sarah to hang in there." 

Discussing the work of the Foundation and the support the charity has received from so many people, and the projects it has helped over the years is something which clearly makes both Mr and Mrs Groves very proud. They believe Sarah would be proud too.

"She'd be in her element, she'd have been blown away. And I'm sure she smiles sometimes," said Mrs Groves.

Fundraisers

Prior to the Covid pandemic, the Sarah Groves Foundation was linked with a number of official and unofficial fundraising events. These including the Tour de Sez and the Val de Terres Everest Challenge.

Vic Groves

Pictured: Guernsey Clematis and other growers have supported the Foundation by growing and selling plants in memory of Sarah Groves.

Unofficial events included individual efforts by people running marathons, taking on cycling challenges and other endeavours to raise money in Sarah Groves' memory. These included the Jurassic Coast Marathon undertaken by Rory Read, the Guildford to Brighton Marathon Walk by Louisa McPhee, and the Wall of China Marathon by Jodie London.

The charity's annual reports for 2018, 2019 and 2020 are listed on its website. 

Gallery

A selection of photographs of some of the fundraising events organised by, and in aid of the Sarah Groves Foundation, and projects supported by the charity and its fundraisers is shared at the bottom of this page.

Sarah groves  Christmas bikes

Pictured: The Sarah Groves Foundation has gifted pushbikes to children over the last few years at Christmas. 

Listen:

Vic and Kate Groves discuss their daughter, their grief, the trial and the work of the Sarah Groves Foundation in this new interview with Express:

Read more...

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Sarah Groves Foundation fuelling the sports stars of the future

Local charity launches 2021 Val des Terres challenge

Sarah Groves Foundation Partners with Local Company

The Sarah Groves Foundation helps sow the seeds of education

Tour de France raises £3k for Sarah Groves Foundation

GALLERY: Donation of children's bikes returns with a bumper year

Businesses donate Viaer Marchi funds to charity

“Significant increase” in young people taking out library books

Sarah Elizabeth Clematis to be unveiled today at Chelsea

"Sarah would have loved this"

Dragonflies spread their wings further with extra support

Christmas bikes tradition continues

Runway riders take over Guernsey Airport

Tour de Sez 'Titans' return home

Cycle success is 'One of a Kind'

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