Lyford Cay Foundations and The King’s Foundation Undertake Two (2) Days of Meetings With Stakeholders launching the New Peter George Goulandris Scholarship Programme and there is still time to apply!

(NASSAU, BAHAMAS) – The Lyford Cay Foundations were delighted to host senior leaders from The King’s Foundation, UK, last month to launch a new Building Crafts Scholarship, The Peter George Goulandris Heritage Scholarship. This will enable Bahamians with an interest in areas such as carpentry, masonry, roofing and plastering, to study in the UK at the prestigious King’s Foundation training centres. 

The $2M endowed scholarship has been made possible by the Constance Goulandris Foundation in memory of Peter George Goulandris, long-time supporter of The Lyford Cay Foundations. The scholarship programme provides the opportunity for eight (8) Bahamians to travel to the UK in July 2025 to enhance their building craft skills. The $30,000 scholarship covers all tuition, airfare, and living costs for the duration of the five-month course. Participants will be trained in techniques necessary for historic building repairs and renovations, enabling them to contribute to the preservation of heritage sites across The Bahamas. 

Ms. Kristina Murrin, Chief Executive Officer and Dr. Simon Sadinsky, Director of Education, from The King’s Foundation were welcomed by the Governor General of The Bahamas on Thursday 6^th March. Following a tour of historic Government House a signing ceremony took place between the Lyford Cay Foundations and The King’s Foundation under the auspices of The Most Honourable Dame Cynthia Pratt, O.N., GCMG. Mr Basil Goulandris, Chairman, The Lyford Cay Foundation, Inc. Board, shared official remarks, celebrating the launch of the new scholarship programme and partnership with The King’s Foundation. “It is my pleasure to announce the establishment of the Peter George Goulandris Heritage Scholarship with Lyford Cay Foundations. In partnership with The King’s Foundation, the new scholarship programme will provide Bahamian students who have an interest in building crafts a unique opportunity”. 

Ms. Kristina Murrin, Chief Executive of The King’s Foundation expressed her thanks to The Governor General and excitement at partnering with The Lyford Cay Foundations to launch the Building Crafts Programme Bahamas. “We are looking forward to working with everyone at the Lyford Cay Foundations to train a new generation of master craftspeople. We are delighted to be able to offer this unique opportunity to talented students from The Bahamas looking to further their skills in traditional heritage crafts and building techniques. It will be a pleasure to welcome them to our King’s Foundation training sites across the United Kingdom.”

The Lyford Cay Foundations Board Members were joined by students from their FOCUS programme, the Governor Generals Youth Award and Junior Achievers, along with past scholarship recipients and The British High Commissioner, Mr. Thomas Hartley.

Representatives from The Lyford Cay Foundations and The King’s Foundation were also received by the Prime Minister, Hon. Philip Davis, KC., who was delighted to hear of this new investment in education, enthusiastically identifying the benefits for Bahamians in terms of upskilling and sustainability.

A courtesy call was also made to the Ministry of Education where The Lyford Cay Foundations and The King’s Foundation met with the Permanent Secretary, Mrs.  Lorraine Symonette-Armbrister and Ministry of Education officials to share details of the new scholarship programme. The need for further technical and vocational training opportunities was discussed and the particular benefits of heritage building skills to preserve and protect the historic environment of The Bahamas.

Ms. Murrin and Dr. Sadinsky were then received by Mr. Don Cornish, Director of the Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation (AMMC) where discussions took place on the necessity for preservation and need for additional staff trained in heritage building skills as AMMC prepares for upcoming restoration efforts at Collins House, home of the National Museum of The Bahamas and other heritage sites. 

Members of the Lyford Cay Foundation and The King’s Foundation also visited The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI), a key partner in ensuring the success of the new scholarship programme. Hearing from BTVI President, Dr. Linda Davis, touring the campus, meeting students and seeing their work provided inspiration and amplified expectations as to the positive impact enhancing existing building skills will have. BTVI, along with AMMC, will help identify potential candidates for the scholarship as well as advise on programme content to ensure it is most relevant and effective to enhance the preservation of the historic landscape of The Bahamas.

Applicants interested in this scholarship should have a basic understanding of the building crafts in areas such as carpentry, stone masonry, roofing, furniture making and other building areas.  

There is still time to apply! Students should submit their applications through the Lyford Cay Foundations scholarship portal by 9th May, 2025.  Decisions will be communicated in early June to allow for travel arrangements to be made.  Applicants will need to apply and be approved for the United Kingdom Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to participate in the programme.  

For more information and to apply please visit lyfordcayfoundations.smapply.io/. 

For more information about The King’s Foundation, please visit kings-foundation.org. 

About Lyford Cay Foundations

Lyford Cay Foundations are comprised of Lyford Cay Foundation, Inc. and The Canadian Lyford Cay Foundation, registered charities established in 1969 and 1977, respectively. Lyford Cay Foundations believe that increasing educational attainment across the country is key to the development of a prosperous, healthy and peaceful Bahamas. 

Lyford Cay Foundations has a mission to invest in learning opportunities for children, young adults, families and communities, all made possible by the generosity of donors. Through a variety of programmes, Lyford Cay Foundations assist children in school as they prepare for college, students leaving school with scholarships to attend college in The Bahamas and abroad, and non-profits providing learning opportunities. To date, more than $50 million has been invested in the lives of Bahamians.

About The King’s Foundation 

The King’s Foundation is a charity founded by King Charles III and was first formed in 1990.

Inspired by the vision and values of His Majesty, the Foundation builds and supports communities where people, places and the planet can coexist in harmony. The charity offers education courses for almost 15,000 students annually, health and wellbeing programmes for nearly 2,000 people every year, and spearheads placemaking and regeneration projects in the UK and overseas to revitalise communities and historic buildings. 

The King’s Foundation is headquartered at its flagship regeneration project, Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland, and acts as custodian of other historic Royal sites including the Castle of Mey in Caithness, Scotland, and Highgrove Gardens in Gloucestershire. The Foundation also carries out its work at educational and cultural hubs in London, based at The King’s Foundation School for Traditional Arts in Shoreditch, Trinity Buoy Wharf on the River Thames and the Garrison Chapel in Chelsea. In addition to its UK presence, the Foundation delivers programmes and projects in over a dozen sites worldwide.For more information, please visit www.kings-foundation.org/ or email media@kings-foundation.org.