Major donation provides further momentum for Batemans’ new building project

Batemans’ drive to raise funds for a new school and boarding home has received a massive boost, thanks to a hugely generous donation by shareholders of a Chennai business.

The UK and Ireland-based shareholders of Meritgroup Ltd made the donation of around £80,000 following the sale of their data and technology business, which was set up in Chennai in 2004.

It means Batemans is now more than one third of the way towards our £280,000 fundraising target for the new building project.

Over the past decade, a number of former Batemans students have gone on to work for Merit, including 21-year-old Isabel Ireland who is currently working for Merit’s digital marketing team in Mumbai.

Cornelius (Con) Conlon, chief executive of Merit, said: “We have been based in Chennai for 14 years and the shareholders are conscious of how much we have benefited from our association with the city and its people.

“We felt that by donating to such a long-standing Chennai-based charity, it was a chance to give something back. We are delighted to be supporting Batemans and can’t wait to see the plans becoming reality over the next few months and years.

Anne Desir, chair of Batemans’ trustees, said: “Meritgroup, and particularly Con and his wife Natasha – who is a Batemans trustee – have been great supporters of Batemans over the years.

“We are so grateful for this hugely generous donation, which gives further impetus to our exciting future plans.”

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