Pupils from Kingsbury Academy in Coventry have visited Coventry Charterhouse to celebrate their fundraising success and enjoy a special programme of activities at the historic site, now cared for by the National Trust.

The visit follows the Charterhouse’s recent reopening under a new partnership between the National Trust and Historic Coventry Trust, which is helping to secure the site’s future as an important community, heritage and education space for the city.

During the Christmas period, pupils at Kingsbury Academy designed and made Christmas cards and baubles which they sold at the Arena Park Tesco as part of their careers-related learning sessions.

Their efforts raised £200, which will be used to support community initiatives for children and families at the Charterhouse during term time and  school holidays.

Pupils chose to present the cheque  to the Charterhouse, having previously visited the site as part of their school’s Eco Week, with a view to helping provide similar opportunities for other young people in Coventry.

To thank the pupils for their support, National Trust staff organised a range of activities during their visit, including rock painting, bubble making and a scavenger hunt exploring the Charterhouse’s grounds.

The children also learned about the wide variety of plants and flowers growing in the Charterhouse’s walled garden during a private tour.

Aroosa Parveen, Assistant Headteacher at Kingsbury Academy, said: “We are incredibly proud of the pupils for their creativity and enthusiasm in raising funds for the Charterhouse. The project gave them valuable real-world experience, while supporting a local place they feel a  connection to.

“Being able to return and take part in the activities was a fantastic way to celebrate their hard work, and we are grateful to the Charterhouse team for organising such a special trip.”

Kristenne Pickles, Operations Manager at  National Trust Coventry Charterhouse, said: “We were delighted to welcome the pupils from Kingsbury Academy back to the Charterhouse and to see their enthusiasm for supporting the site.

“Their fundraising will directly contribute to creating more opportunities for local children to enjoy the history, nature and green spaces that the Charterhouse offers.

“We’re very grateful to the school for their ongoing support and proud to see the Charterhouse playing such a positive role for the community.”

Originally founded in 1385 as a Carthusian monastery, the Charterhouse is one of Coventry’s most significant historic sites. The Grade I listed building includes rare medieval and renaissance wall paintings, a walled garden, community orchard, wildlife pond and green space at the heart of Coventry’s growing Heritage Park.

The site reopened to the public in May 2025 following a new partnership between Historic Coventry Trust, which owns the property and led its £11.9 million restoration with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Coventry City Council and the National Trust, which will help bring the site to wider audiences locally, nationally and internationally.

In addition to managing the Charterhouse, the National Trust will also work with partners including the John Muir Trust to support the development of the wider heritage park and the green corridor connecting it to the city centre.

For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/warwickshire/coventry-charterhouse