Jack Petchey Achievement Award

The Jack Petchey Awards

Established in 1999, The Jack Petchey Foundation gives grants to programmes and projects that benefit young people aged 11-25. The Foundation is eager to help young people take advantage of opportunities and play a full part in society. The major focus of their work is the Achievement Award Scheme. The Foundation focuses on London and Essex.

Gold Scheme Award

The Bethlem and Maudsley Hospital School has just joined the scheme and is involved in the “Gold Scheme Award”, this means that we nominate a pupil each month who teachers feel go the extra mile – it’s about doing your best not being the best!

The Jack Petchey Scheme awards certificates, pins and £200 to students who’ve excelled outside their academic capability. The young person chooses how their award money is to be spent to the benefit of all – this can be spent on additional activities or new equipment for the school (but cannot be spent on core/running costs).

All recipients are nominated for their individual non academic achievements.

How Jack Petchey Award money has been spent this academic year:

Student Awards:

• Horse riding
• A trip to see the Golden Pharaoh at the Saatchi Gallery
• Nintendo Switch (for use on the ward)
• Bespoken Theatre Company visit
• A microscope

Leaders Awards:

• A selection of artwork to brighten up the corridors next to the classroom
• A trip for students to see a Pantomime

Who is Jack Petchey?

Jack Petchey is one of the UK’s most successful businessmen. Born in East London in July 1925, Jack came from a working class background with very few advantages. From an early age he showed the entrepreneurial skills that have aided his success. Having left school at 14 Jack worked as an office boy before joining the Fleet Air Arm in 1943. At the end of the Second World War Jack left the Navy and became a clerk. He applied for a management position but was told by the personnel officer of his firm: “you’ll never make a businessman”.  So Jack Petchey decided to go it alone. With £60 to his name, he bought a motor car and founded his first Car Hire business. From there a thriving Car Sales business was formed. In 1999, he set up the Jack Petchey Foundation as he wanted to give opportunities to young people in London. Over the last ten years he has donated over £65million to schools, clubs and projects which benefit young people in London. In 2004 Jack was awarded an OBE at Buckingham Palace, by Her Majesty The Queen.

You can read more about the foundation at Jack Petchey Foundation