This year's AGM started with a welcome message from Jonathan Leafe, OH 1971-79, Chairman of the OHA 

A warm welcome to all committee members and those attending online.

The highlights of the accounts are that we made a loss on both the Hull and London dinners in 2023 and it’s looking like the Hull dinner for 2024 is heading that way as well.  The primary reasons for this are that the costs have risen sharply and we kept the ticket price lower than the increase.  Also, the anticipated sponsorship money was not as forthcoming as previous events where we managed to make a reasonable surplus.  For balance, the last few years have broken even.

However, we feel that these events are hugely important to the OHA community and the level of support we have had over the last fews years has been superb.  Other committee members and I will be taking a deeper look into this so we can support Emily and team better to ensure that these dinners are not only well attended but continue to be the flagship events for the OHA.  Fortunately, the reserves are still solid at £20,000

I believe that the last few years, thanks to Emily (Pennack, OH 1989-95) and the Development Office, we have significantly advanced our reach and engagement of the OHA but there’s more to be done and we will not get complacent.  OHA events are happening up and down the country as we aim to enhance and stretch our reach.

In my last year as Chairman, I hope to leave the organisation much stronger than it was in 2020/1 and create a platform that will not only be sustainable but continue to flourish for the years to come. Especially at a time where the school is under significant outside pressure.  Pressure that Hymers has not seen for over 40 years since assisted places were dropped and it became fully independent.

The Digital archive project is nearing completion, and the photo archive is picking up pace - more information will follow.

At this time, we need OHA members to come together and do whatever they can to support the school so that it may flourish for another century and more.

I’d like to introduce Emily, who will give an update from the Development Office.  After that, we’ll hear from our current OHA president. Duncan Hider (OH 1983-93).

Next, Emily Pennack summarised the Development Office's report:

January 2025: Development Office report for AGM
The key objective for The Development Office remains to fundraise for our bursary provision at Hymers. Alongside the work and promotion in engaging with our alumni, it has become clear that through the work of the Development Office, we have increased the awareness of ‘brand Hymers’ and as a side product of this our work has helped to recruit new students and retain and enhance our current student body. Our key role remains the same:

• Promote positive communication and engagement with the Hymers Community and beyond
• Engage in a purposeful way with a wider network of our alumni across the world,   informing them of the ongoing success of the school
• Through our Development Office, establish and support the growth of an enduring and substantial legacy and endowment-funded bursary programme to support wide access to the school in keeping with the founding mission of John Hymers

Engagement from alumni volunteering their time on a weekly basis:

• Careers Convention 
• Medic Mentors
• Weekly alumni visitors at school talking to various groups of students - Medical, Law, Business, Geography, Language
• Careers and Networking evenings for families
• Work placement programme- 75 students 
• Sixth Form lecture programme 
• School assembly visitors 

Events and initiatives so far:

• Sponsor a Stone 
• Founder’s Day Celebrations and new traditions
• Introduced Student fundraising for Bursary Fund 
• Giving Day 2025
• Lunches and city networking drinks
• Anniversary brochures/badges
• Mentoring offers via website
• Name that Face Digital archive
• Country meetups and a global work placement 
• 35 years coeducational celebrations and reengagement
• Former staff welcomed back and engaging
• Celebration of 30 years of opening of Judi Dench Theatre Summer 2024 

Highlights in alumni engagement data:

• 5,000+ OHs engaged at least some level (Newsletter/ social media channels) 
• Social Media channels, year on year increased numbers and engagement 
• News stories published daily

2025 Focus:

• Build Legacy pledges alongside increasing awareness of regular giving- alumni to make Hymers their charity of choice
• Increase awareness within school and parent body of the Development Office
• Continue to enrich and enhance a Hymers student education and beyond using alumni 
• Continue to build a culture of philanthropy within the OH community

 Finally, Duncan Hider delivered the President's report:

This report is purely based on 4 months into the 12 month presidency.

I would like to thank the Development Office for their support and hard work in supporting me, the events and many many Old Hymerians that I’ve seen them interact with.

Do I have any feedback and thoughts…? Absolutely yes, but having discussed many of these with Emily and the team they are not “new” as such. It would be disrespectful to highlight concepts and ideas which Emily and the team are clearly working on now , or have already worked on. It’s a long term marathon, not a sprint and I fully support their hard work in this.

The team are very much aware of the challenges in engaging with ex pupils, and ultimately you cannot force people to engage who may have their own priorities with time in life.

Time is precious, money is scarce and the perception of the OLD Hymerians I still feel is one of people who are old, as opposed to people who used to attend the school.

That said, it is clear from what I can see that the Development Office continue to engage with a broad range of old Hymerians, and the value of them, then engaging with current students should not be ignored.

This added value work assists both those directly getting assistance currently with advice, and equally strengthens the value of the education that pupils will receive if they choose Hymers in the future. In terms of the marketing of the school this added value should set Hymers aside from the competition.

The team are using both old and new methods to increase engagement and the results of this should not be based on here and now, but in my opinion the years to come.

I don’t have all the answers to increase engagement but I am keen to work with the team wherever I can to increase engagement both through this year and future years if I can assist at all.

I would highlight again  that I don’t think that measuring success of the OHA in short term numbers or monetary terms should be the only target. Seeing some of the OHA at events and their clear appreciation of being part of this family is priceless. Alongside this is seeing the current students getting valuable advice from Old Hymerians… and the team should be congratulated for this much improved engagement.