Fundraiser for Luke Rowney to attend 6th form college

Fundraiser for Luke Rowney to attend 6th Form College £19,635

Our dear friends Simon and Victoria Rowney have been the Corps officers at Andover for the last four years. It has been a challenging couple of years for the Rowneys as Simon suffered a devastating stroke which left him very physically disabled. Simon and Victoria have coped admirably and have been well supported by their two sons Daniel and Luke and family and friends.

Simon and Victoria have recently received the news that their next role in the Salvation Army will mean a move to London in July 2025. Whilst they are very excited about their new role, particularly as it will give Simon more independence, it has created an issue with Luke’s future education plans.

Luke’s plan is to study A levels in Law, Criminology and Religious Studies at Peter Symonds 6th form college in Winchester before applying to join the Military Police. This would not have been a problem if Simon and Victoria had been remaining in Andover. Despite extensive enquiries, there are no colleges within two hours of their new home in London which offer this combination of A levels.

Luke is only 16 and is too young to live independently and he will not have any local family members that he could live with to enable him to attend Peter Symonds 6th form college. His older brother Daniel has also recently realised his long held dream to join The Royal Marines School of Music.

Peter Symonds 6th form college which is based in Winchester is the local state funded college which a number of Luke’s school friends and ACF will also be attending. These friends were very supportive to Luke when Simon was so gravely ill. Peter Symonds is very unusual in that it offers a limited amount of age appropriate accommodation. This accommodation would offer great reassurance to Simon and Victoria that Luke would be in a safe environment whilst he studied and they worked for the Salvation Army in London.

Unfortunately whilst the education at Peter Symonds is publicly funded, the accommodation is chargeable. The accommodation for one year in Falklands Lodge from September 2025 will cost £19,635. Please remember that Luke will be studying for a total of 2 years.

I’m sure that you will appreciate that this cost is well beyond the means of Salvation Army officers. Simon and Victoria have approached The Salvation Army and Peter Symonds for some assistance in funding but unfortunately there is no financial help available.

Luke’s education has always been dependent on where Simon and Victoria are serving with The Salvation Army and it has meant that Luke has had many changes of schools.

Luke would dearly like to continue the final part of his education in Winchester at Peter Symonds 6th form college

I feel that if people were aware of the predicament that the Rowney family are facing that they would like the opportunity to help financially if they could.

Please help Luke to get to study at Peter Symonds by donating to this fundraiser. Please give as generously as you can and share this post

Thank you

Julie Sharp