Two Year 13 students from Katharine Lady Berkeley’s School, Wotton-under-Edge, who have organised a fundraising event to help raise money to take up life-changing opportunities in Chile and Ghana, have received incredible support from local artists.
Following a challenging selection course, Seth James (17) and Charlie Pattison (18) secured places on 12-month volunteering programmes with the educational charity Project Trust, both beginning in September 2026.
Seth will spend a year in Ghana teaching STEM subjects in a rural school, while Charlie will be working in a secondary school near Santiago, Chile.
To take up their placements, each student must raise £7,450 to cover essentials such as training, flights, accommodation, and emergency support.
One of their key fundraising initiatives is Wotton-under-Edge’s Secret Postcard Auction, which is running online from 1–19 October via the 32auctions platform: www.32auctions.com/wuesecretpostcards, following a Private View at Under the Edge Arts, Wotton-under-Edge.
Over 120 original postcard-sized artworks have been generously donated by artists across Gloucestershire, including a multiple Eisner-award-winning comic artist, an Academy Award Nominated Director at Aardman and many, many more. Each piece is sold anonymously, with the artist’s identity only revealed after the auction closes – buyers choose purely based on the art they love.
Artist Simon Lloyd, who has contributed two postcards, and who encouraged fellow students from his life-drawing class to do the same said: ‘It’s a rare opportunity for some of us who attend classes at Wotton Arts Centre, including myself, to make special pieces of artwork then collectively display it for everyone to enjoy. It will hopefully make some money for a fantastic charity and it’s a chance for anyone who bids to own a one-off piece of art.’
About Project Trust
Founded over 50 years ago, Project Trust (Charity no. SCO25668) is one of the original youth volunteering organisations. Its mission is to empower young people to become responsible, active global citizens through ethical, long-term volunteering placements in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Volunteers contribute meaningfully to host communities while building their own skills, knowledge, and cultural understanding. Learn more at www.projecttrust.org.uk.
