National Saturday Clubs: Graduation Ceremony

On 14 July I had the great pleasure of attending this year’s graduation event and exhibition along with representatives from other organisations from education, industry and culture.  We were treated to some heartfelt speeches by the young people themselves, who gave telling stories about how their access to the Saturday Clubs had changed their lives, particularly those who came from deprived backgrounds or who had limited access to the arts. 

The Saturday Clubs have clearly impacted on thousands of students over the past year.  This year’s graduates numbered some 2,300, principally aged between 13 and 16 from across the UK in 122 different clubs.  Colleges and Universities and other cultural institutions also made a contribution to these clubs together with masterclasses from industry professionals.

We also heard from adult tutor Sabby Jamal and alumna Betsy Ballisch whose dedication was truly heart-warming.  The evening concluded with speeches from Sir Nigel Carrington, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Lucy Kennedy the Chief Executive of the National Saturday Clubs.

The Founders’ Brunel Awards will be heavily involved from next year in sponsoring a number of these clubs.

David Kennedy, 28 July 2025