John Casson Foundation

Since 2001, John Casson MBE has raised over £750,000 for charities and worthwhile causes, either by himself or through the John Casson Foundation.

From 2001 until 2016, John was the primary sponsor of St Mary’s School in the remote Indian Himalayas near Darjeeling, firstly through his company Securewest International and then through the John Casson Foundation. 

When he first became involved with the school it had 210 pupils and had little to no money. At the time, the sponsorship concluded almost every child in the area, 540 in all received a good education and a chance in life, with many going on to higher education.

The John Casson Foundation was formed as a trust by John in 2012 which focuses primarily on supporting small children’s charities and worthwhile causes in Cornwall, Devon, the UK and overseas.  

This includes charities that support young carers, physically and visually challenged young people, children’s bereavement and hospice care and opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds as well as Nayamba school in Zambia.

Other than a small amount of international bank charges, the foundation incurs no overheads and all the money raised is donated to the beneficiaries.

Amongst the John Casson Foundation’s many fundraising activities, John organises dinners and lunches which have been supported by the late Sir Michael Parkinson three times; Lord Julian Fellowes, the creator of Downton Abbey; General Sir David Richards when he was Chief of the Defence Staff; Sandy Gall three times, the iconic presenter of ITN’s News at Ten; Falklands War veteran Simon Weston: the Oscar-winning actress Hayley Mills;  Stanley Johnson; the BBC’s Security Correspondent Frank Gardner; and recently Sir Richard Dearlove KCMG OBE, the former head of MI6 – all of whom give up their own time to offer their support.

Even as organiser of an event, John pays for his own place in full to attend! 

Photos 1, 2 & 3: St Marys School, Singla, nr Darjeeling, India

Photo 4: Sir Michael Parkinson

Photo 5: Sir John Mills dinner in aid of the Greater London Fund for the Blind

Photo 6: Sir Edward Bolitho, Lord Lieutenant (Cornwall), John Casson MBE and Sir Richard Dearlove