In 2022, the Founders’ Charities became a founding partner of Bedford Giving, pledging £45,000 over three years to help improve opportunities for children and young people in Bedford.

With £30,000 already contributed, the Company’s support has been instrumental in enabling the initiative to raise over £1 million in pooled funding from eight partners.

The initiative is rooted in four priority areas: raising aspirations, improving mental health, increasing access to affordable activities, and amplifying youth voices.

The Founders’ contribution has helped drive meaningful change and long-term momentum.

The Sixth Form Scholarships provide STEM enthusiastic students with opportunities and financial support to access essential learning tools and resources they may not be able to afford independently. These scholarships are awarded from the second term of Year 12 and continue through to Year 13, supporting students in their academic pursuits.

All scholars have attended events at Founders' Hall, where they have engaged with members and explored their academic and career aspirations. Many have expressed interest in joining the Artisan membership.

There are currently 4 scholars at Aylesbury Grammar School and 7 at the John Warner School.

This programme has been running for a number of years at JWS (The John Warner School), ably led by teaching fellow and Freeman Stuart Higham.

Under Stuart’s guidance, hundreds of pupils of primary school age and above have had the opportunity to gain a variety of skills in building and programming robots and then taking part in VEX robotics competitions.

Students who have since left JWS are always keen to come back and volunteer. This programme takes children all over the world to competitions where they are usually extremely successful!

Set up in memory of the singer who died after a drugs overdose, this Foundation in her name works to inspire young people to build their self esteem and resilience so that they can flourish, whether through music therapy, a recovery pathway programme to address drug or alcohol addiction or providing safe housing for young women. Their resilience programme for schools is probably the best programme to help young people understand the risks associated with substance misuse.

Prizes of £500 awarded to Foundation Degree Metalwork students at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation who has made the most progress during the year.

The chosen winners will be the students who have demonstrated the most improvement, judged through the use of materials, analysis, studio practice and the reflection process.

Young people across the country are spending Saturday mornings at their local university, college or museum discovering subjects they love. Saturday Clubs are open to 13–16-year-olds of all abilities and are free to attend.

Joining the National Saturday Club is a unique opportunity to learn new skills, discover talents, meet new people, and find out more about further education, higher education and rewarding careers.

In 2024, the Founders’ Brunel Awards proudly became Gold Partners of the Lord Mayor’s Royal Mathematical School Scholarship Programme. This new initiative was launched to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the Royal Mathematical School (RMS) at Christ’s Hospital, in collaboration with the Lord Mayor of London, Professor Michael Mainelli.

Originally founded by King Charles II in 1673 to equip students with the skills to navigate the world, the RMS continues to inspire future generations.

The Founders have contributed £50,000 to help fund a perpetual scholarship, directly supporting a young person at Christ’s Hospital.

Funding for12-week hands-on STEM programmes for Key Stage 2 and 3 students, teaching practical repair skills using real devices. Each cohort of up to 30 students receives 12 hours of guided activity, using kits of tools and gadgets to explore electronics, sustainability, and engineering. The programme includes teacher onboarding, kit rental, and access to digital content. It tracks student confidence and attitudes toward STEM and repair culture, with impact reports provided. The initiative promotes sustainability, critical thinking, and technical literacy, aligning with the Founders’ commitment to skills development and environmental responsibility.

The Royal Institution’s Science in Schools programme delivers shows in schools across the UK, which create a buzz about science with explosive, fun, interactive demonstrations. They focus their delivery on schools, where children may otherwise not have an opportunity to engage with science beyond the classroom.