News and updates

Remembering Fi Braidwood celebrating her life and legacy 10 years on.

​

It’s hard to believe at the end of March 2026 we will be marking the 10-year anniversary of when Fiona (Fi) Braidwood died in a car accident on Wolvershill Road Banwell

 

Fi was 17 years old, a sixth form student at Churchill Academy studying A-levels and was busy applying to University. She was on the cusp of adulthood and very much looking forward to a bright future.

 

Fi’s car accident and sudden death shocked our small community. The grief was felt deeply by her family and friends. Her funeral held during the school Easter holidays was poignant, vibrant, and also very sad. An outpouring of love came from the community together with a momentum for something positive to come out of all the sadness. It felt important to all those that were missing her that her sparkle, spirit and memory could be held close and remain present.  The idea for Fi’s Enrichment Education Support (FEES) fund, inspired by Fi’s strong desire to make the world a better place, was an attempt to build a lasting legacy. Fi benefited greatly by taking part in a range of extracurricular activities that helped build her confidence, nurture her talents and help create her plans for the future and we wanted to help others do the same.

​

FEES FUND a registered education charity has enabled the communities who knew Fi to actively take part in fundraising challenges to provide grants to children and young people, who live in families where money is tight, to take part in extracurricular activities. FEES Fund pays the fees helping to remove financial barriers. The grants aim to inspire a love of learning, build new skills, nurture children and young people’s talents and create opportunities that wouldn’t have been possible without this funding.

​

FEES Fund values are very much inspired by Fi and what she considered was important in building a better and fairer society. Community and kindness are at the heart of our small charity. We aim to create opportunities that help raise young people’s aspirations and support young people to have fun.

​

FEES Fund would like to invite everyone in the community to a tea and cake morning on Sunday 29th March from 10.00 – 11.30 at Banwell Scout Hut. There will be an opportunity to find out more about our charity, hear more about Fi’s legacy, meet Trustees, see displays of past fund-raising events, the impact of FEES Fund grants and hear about our future plans. We also want to use the day to thank the community in Banwell and beyond for the fantastic support provided to FEES Fund, and to share how you can get involved, and how young people you may know people could benefit from a FEES Fund grant.

​

At the end of her life Fi became a multiple organ donor and helped save the lives of four people. FEES Fund also helps promote awareness of the need to talk about organ donation and making your wishes known This is something Fi did loudly and is another important aspect of her incredible legacy and the ripple effect organ donation provides for those waiting on transplant waiting lists. There will be more information about organ donation at the event and you can read more on the NHSBT website  https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk  

 

We look forward to seeing you on Sun 29th March from 10.00 - 11.30. Everyone is welcome.

 

FEES Fund website: https://www.feesfund.org

Email contact info@feesfund.org