A Charitable Incorporated Organisation
About POWAA - UK
The primary objective of POWAA UK is to support the development of our dear alma mater. To that end we undertake a series of activities in the UK to raise funds to support key development programmes at the school in Freetown. We also use our activities to raise the profile of the school and to foster a strong community spirit among ex-Princewaleans.
POWAA UK (originally the Old Princewaleans Association – OPWA UK) was founded in 1985 in London and the first President was Mr. F.G.O Bright. We are registered by the UK Charity Commission as a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) with a Board of Trustees overseeing governance and administration. . A copy of our constitution is available to download from this website and can also be obtained from the POWAA UK Secretariat.
An Executive Committee led by the President is elected annually and several committees guide day to day affairs including: Constitutional and Review, e-Communications, Membership, Fundraising and Thanksgiving committees.
POWAA UK is the oldest of the diasporan Chapters and in the thirty-four years of its existence our Association has made many significant charitable donations to the school. In recent years we have worked closely on common goals with the Freetown and USA Chapters through our Global Leadership Council, Global Education Committee and the Biennial Global Conference (hosted on rotation by the participating chapters).
Alumni Meetings
General meetings are usually held in London (and via Zoom) every 3rd Sunday of the month. If you would like to receive notice of meetings please use our contact form. POWAA UK would like to hear from you even if you are unlikely to ever attend a meeting, as there are still many ways in which you can help us support the school. The Annual General Meeting is held yearly in October of where members can vote for new members of the Executive Team
Bursaries
POWAA UK has provided bursaries to SS3 pupils for several years. In the 2017/18 academic year, four blind students were part of the cohort of 16 pupils, who benefited from the scheme. Each bursary is the equivalent of £100 per annum.
Infrastructure Development
POWAA UK consistently supports the maintenance (and where necessary the rehabilitation) of school infrastructure. In [March 2022], the Association contributed £8,000 toward the completion of the refurbishment of the school assembly hall.
Teacher Incentives
Along with other Alumni Associations of the school, POWAA UK contributes to annual stipends for all serving staff (teaching and ancillary staff) at the school. These stipends are intended to serve as incentives to the staff whilst they augment their basic salary.
Mentorship
The POWAA UK mentorship scheme currently works with the students who are in receipt of association’s bursaries. The scheme pairs the Association’s Alumni (mentor) with a selected pupils (mentees) to motivate, encourage and guide them in their career pathway. All mentors must operate within POWAA UK & Ireland Safeguarding Policy and are DBS-checked.
Endowment Fund
POWAA UK is an Association Member of the Prince of Wales School Alumni Foundation (POWSAF) and contributes to its Endowment Fund. POWSAF (www.powsaf.org) is a US-based charity formed to raise funds, invest it in the capital markets, and then, while preserving the capital base, allocate the investment proceeds to projects that will support and maintain Educational Attainment at the school.
Executive members for 2024/2025
Our Executive Team consists of experienced professionals and they are all highly committed to the Association. The Executive Team stays in post until the Annual General Meeting in [November] of each year.
President
Dr Dilys Benjamin
Vice President & Assistant Treasurer
Mr Donald
Hanciles
General Secretary
Mr Randolph
Pratt
Assistant Secretary
Mr Henry Sawyerr
Membership Secretary
Mr Ibrahim Jalloh
Membership Secretaries (Merchandise Director)
Mr Remmie
Akibo-Betts
Director of Fundraising
Mr Patrick Dixon
Organising Secretary
Mr Reginald
Massaquoi
Organising Secretaries
Mr Tamba
Ngegba
Treasurer
Mr Donald Asgill
Pastoral Officer
Dr Mohammed S.I Kamara
Pastoral Officer
Mr Benson
Strasser-Williams
E-Communications
Officer
Mr Donald Ivan-Dixon
E-Communications
Officer
Mr Davidson
Sawyerr
Dr Lucien Turay
Dr Alex Blanshard
Freetown Reps
Mr Emile Akabi-Davis
Ms Annette T Bangura
Internal Auditors
Mr Norman Thompson
Mr Eugene Benjamin
Mr Wilfred Macfoy
Dr Kayode Robbin-Coker
Mrs Nancy Bolaji
Rev. Dudley Hanciles
Other Trustees
Alhaji Khadiru Mahdi
Dr Lucien Turay
Mr Sam Robbin-Coker
Mr Emlyn Palmer
Mr Malyck Sylla
Mr Victor Mengot
Mr Seton During
Ex-Officio (Past Presidents)
