Addressing Youth Deprivation in Islington

This week members of the Court visited beneficiaries of the Dame Alice Owen Foundation in Islington.

The Brewers’ Company is Trustee to the Dame Alice Owen Foundation (DAOF) which, in 2024, distributed over half a million pounds to projects supporting the education and development of young people in the London Borough of Islington. Islington has high levels of youth deprivation which impact significantly on the life chances of many of its young people. Over the next five years, DAOF investment will support programmes which play a central role in a range of interventions designed to improve the life prospects of the most marginalised children and young people in the borough by addressing inequity of experience in education.

The visit, which took place on 29 January, was an opportunity for the Trustee to see ongoing DAOF projects in action and to receive direct feedback from beneficiaries. It included sessions with Upward Bound, The Enrichment Hub, Science for Life, Music Education Islington and the Music in Secondary Schools Trust.

Upward Bound

Upward Bound aims to raise attainment and aspirations for young people studying at key stage 3 and 4 in Islington. The programme serves 200 young people from 9 Islington schools each year. The programme runs on Saturday mornings for 29 weeks every year at London Metropolitan University with an exceptional staff, specifically trained to inspire and motivate young people. They work collectively to deliver an exciting alternative education programme with strong links to the national curriculum that re-engages learners, builds confidence and motivates the students to achieve. The students at the visit (pictured) spoke confidently about the transformation of their confidence, opportunities in life and improvement in their Maths and/or English grades.

The Enrichment Hub

The Enrichment Hub delivers high quality provision to Islington young people between the ages of 5 and 16. It provides targeted support for children who are unlikely to achieve or maintain a reasonable level of health or development without an intervention. Part of the support provided focuses on delivering enrichment activities for children in need, which help to support their psychological and educational development. The Enrichment Hub currently offers short projects, after school clubs and holiday camps. Activities include boxing, football, basketball, street and Afrobeats dance, drumming, drama, cooking, and creative arts and crafts.

Science for Life

Science for Life is an organisation and partnership whose ambition is to increase the number of pupils in Islington engaging and progressing with science from primary through to post-compulsory level. By developing pupils’ science capital, its goal is for all children, regardless of their background, to have the opportunity to develop life skills and ways of thinking that enable them to choose to pursue science and consider STEM-related career opportunities. The Science for Life Hub includes teachers from Islington primary schools, special settings and secondary schools. Alongside science enrichment opportunities, the Hub sets the agenda for the primary Continuing Professional Development programme which supports teachers to develop their subject knowledge, pedagogy and confidence.

Music Education Islington

Music Education Islington (MEI) is a partnership of leading music education organisations active in the Borough, who work together to ensure all children and young people have sustained opportunities to engage in musical learning activities. MEI’s vision is that all children and young people to receive a fair share of high-quality music education and progression opportunities irrespective of their background. This is achieved through:

• At least 1 term, and ideally at least 1 year, of group instrumental learning
• Opportunities to progress on an instrument of choice and to perform in public
• Opportunities to sing regularly and in public performances

Music in Secondary Schools Trust

Music in Secondary Schools Trust (MiSST) helps secondary schools overcome disadvantage and challenges by providing funding for classical instruments and support in the form of regular tuition, opportunities to perform and a programme of excellence that is unrivalled in the UK. MiSST also provides ‘Pathways to Excellence’ programmes for promising students, with access to ensemble and orchestral playing.