Hello! We are FoG

Created by parents, powered by community, the Friends of Gillespie charity supports a brilliant school to get even better. Dig into our mission, learn who we are and how we work.

Our mission

FoG is here to help

Gillespie Primary School.

The school is an essential fixture in Highbury since 1878, located near the historic Arsenal stadium.

It boasts a rich history of providing outstanding education and fostering child development in their formative years


Our values

FoG is an integral part of the Gillepie Primary School community.

And as a volunteer-led charity, we recognise our actions, language and decisions set a tone for how we all work together.

So, we put together a set of values to guide FoG members and the wider community.

Inclusivity

  • We welcome parents, carers, guardians and staff of all cultures, languages, faiths and circumstance

  • Accessibility at the heart of all FoG activity

Respect

  • Every voice is valued. And all our interactions guided by respect and courtesy towards each other

Collaboration

  • We work as partners and share responsibilities, celebrate successes and recognise everybody’s contributions

Transparency

  • Our communication is open and honest. 

In order to help build on this tradition, FoG raises essential funds to support the school across a diverse range of initiatives and projects.

A few examples:

  • For our kids to get more classroom care

  • For more opportunities for them to pursue passions

  • For talented people and improved facilities to make it all happen

Positivity

  • We are constructive in how we solve challenges, and always put what’s best for the children of Gillespie School first

Community Spirited

  • Gillespie School is a foundation for our local community, and we nurture that sense of togetherness through our staff, school families, pupils and out across the local area.

Leadership

  • The FoG Foundation leadership group are governed by the principles described above

We live out these values by creating warm and inclusive spaces for meetings and discussion. We always encourage feedback and love gathering new ideas and input to keep us fresh and sharp.

And our events, our communications, everything we do should reflect the diverse community of Gillespie Primary School. 


Who we are

Friends of Gillespie is made up of 2 committees: FoG Events and The FoG Foundation.

Each committee has a group of elected members – all volunteers.

We draw from the parents of our pupil families, individuals with a connection to Gillespie Primary School and from the wider community.

This group is headed up by our Events Lead Sean Thomson and our Foundation Lead Flo Buckeridge.

As key components of the wider Friends of Gillespie charity, the leads from the Events and Foundation committees joins a Senior Friends of Gillespie Board group to make sure our efforts are closely aligned to the school’s funding and enrichment priorities.

For a closer look at how we work, our planned projects and to learn how to support the school, head over here.

The FoG Foundation Terms of Reference

Click below for some useful insights into the Foundation's governance structure, detailing, our reporting approach, meetings and roles and responsibilities.