A dozen years of making a difference: Action Tutoring turns 12

On 26th June, Action Tutoring marked its 12th anniversary with a celebratory event at Drapers’ Hall in London. One of our funders, the Drapers’ Charitable Fund, generously donated the hall and refreshments for the evening. It was a truly inspiring evening filled with powerful messages, heart-warming stories, and a renewed commitment to educational equality. Guests mingled over delicious wine and canapes, forging new connections and sharing their experiences of Action Tutoring’s journey. The night ended on a sweet note, with everyone taking home a delightful Action Tutoring cupcake. These were a special creation by Zoe Rafah of Heavenly Creations.

Captivating speakers and special guests:

We were honoured to hear from a host of captivating speakers, including Grant Clemence (Group Head of Insurance Risk and Corporate Insurances, QBE, and Chair of the QBE Foundation) and Simrat Mavi (Deputy Headteacher, St Giles’ CE Primary School, Walsall). We also heard from Janet Cheney, one of our volunteer tutors who has been supporting us for over ten years about her experiences. Their insights and experiences were invaluable, highlighting the crucial role of education in empowering young people. Not to mention, The Rt Hon. the Lord David Blunkett, former education secretary, even sent a personal video message that resonated deeply with the audience (watch here).

Celebrating impact:

One highlight of the evening was our new film showcasing some of the inspiring young people who have benefitted from Action Tutoring (watch here).  We would love it if you could share this film on your social media in order to help raise awareness of our crucial work.

Volunteer award winners:

We are incredibly grateful for the dedication and passion of our volunteers. A big congratulations to all our Volunteer Award winners this year, we were thrilled to see so many of you in person at the event:

• Philip Sims
• Robert (Bob) Mauger
• Nicholas Paul
• Laura Shepherd
• Matthew Bradshaw
• Susan Tonge
• Nehal Patel
• Claire Gregson
• Steve Hackett
• Simon Ximenez
• Heather Halls
• Angela Fookes

Your involvement:

We are so grateful to every volunteer, school teacher, funder, partner, and team member who has helped us reach this incredible milestone. Together, we have made a significant impact on the lives of countless young people. Thank you!

We will continue our work until we reach a point where we’re no longer needed. To make this possible, please help spread the word to encourage others to join our mission as a volunteer, partner school or funder.

Fearless fundraisers take on the Birmingham 10k to raise vital funds!

Four incredible Action Tutoring fundraisers have taken on the Birmingham 10k to support disadvantaged young people. Pushing their physical limits, the fundraisers showed great dedication to our important cause of closing the education attainment gap.

Read on to hear about Orla, Molly, John, and Justina’s incredible commitment to our cause.

Booming atmosphere

Our Fundraising Coordinator for Campaigns, Events, and Individual Giving, Molly, attended the race to cheer on our incredible team. She highlights how the atmosphere on race day was electric.

The atmosphere was incredible! Supporters cheered all the way along the route, and the start and finish lines had a carnival-like atmosphere. Music was blaring and everyone was in high spirits. – Molly

Molly also shares her pride for our runners’ bravery and dedication by completing this personal challenge for our pupils.

It was amazing to see so many participants for various charities. I was immensely proud to see our runners sporting our Action Tutoring t-shirts through Birmingham’s streets! – Molly

Finish line celebrations

After the race, Molly met our fundraisers who were all enthusiastic about their experience, calling it both fun and rewarding.

Orla and Molly are colleagues from QBE, of which Action Tutoring is the UK community partner of their Foundation. The two of them had a great time at the race, celebrating afterwards with some well-deserved pizza! Thank you to QBE for matching their donations!

During the race’s tougher moments, Justina drew inspiration from a pupil she tutored as an Action Tutoring volunteer. Remembering the positive change she made in their educational journey helped her push forward.

John said he felt humbled by the support he had received. This includes his family and friends with their generous donations, and his daughter, who cheered him on at race day.

Triumphant fundraising

It’s wonderful to see these fundraisers raising money to support Action Tutoring’s nationwide work and representing us in Birmingham, where we have over 170 pupils at 7 schools! Thanks so much!! – Alex Wilson, Midlands Programme Manager

The team of four collectively raised an incredible £5,478.24, rising to £6,485.74 with Gift Aid!

This staggering amount could provide a year of face-to-face tutoring for 13 pupils. It could also provide enhanced DBS checks for 600 volunteer tutors!

Thank you to our team of four that ran in this event in aid of our important work. We sincerely appreciate your effort and commitment to helping us close the attainment gap and tackle education inequality head on! – Hannah O’Neill, Head of Philanthropy

Fight education inequality with us!

Inspired by Orla, Molly, John, and Justina’s achievements? You can be a champion for education equality too!

• Run or cycle for our cause: We have charity spots open at summer sporting events. See the full list on our fundraising page.
• Dream up your own challenge: Can’t find the perfect event? Contact Molly, our Fundraising Coordinator (molly.cottrill@actiontutoring.org.uk), to discuss your own fundraising ideas – sports or otherwise!

Meet Stephen: His tutoring and teaching story

Stephen has been inspired by the pupils he has taught and tutored. He wanted to make a difference, learn new skills before embracing teaching, and see a pupil say ‘I get it’. Through Now Teach and Action Tutoring, he’s done just that. Read on to find out more about how his tutoring experience has developed his confidence and passion for teaching.

My reasons for teaching

Like many, I was inspired by tutors and teachers during lockdown. My children’s teachers ran some amazing online sessions. They were so patient and enthusiastic. During a very difficult time for the kids, once teachers appeared, my children’s faces lit up.

In my school days, I had a very inspiring physics teacher. He encouraged me and introduced me to material well above the standard curriculum, which helped me in my career.

I’m always inspired by enthusiastic and energetic people I work with, including my PGCE leader. His lessons and, in particular, his classroom management are incredible. Throughout the last 2 years, I’ve aimed to recreate his lessons and develop the same enthusiasm and dynamism.

Pupil appreciation

“It was also new and interesting to be called Sir.“

Before teaching, I had minimal classroom experience. During COVID, classroom access was very limited. Now Teach then introduced me to Action Tutoring to get some experience and it’s nice to feel helpful. It’s even greater to tutor children who wanted and needed the help and today I still remember the pupils’ appreciation. While they didn’t find the subject easy, it was nice working with them. It was also new and interesting to be called Sir.

Lots of learning

Overall, I’ve learnt a lot. Through tutoring, it has been really great practice at listening, understanding pupils’ knowledge, and highlighting where we needed to focus. That was amazing and I now use many of the things I’ve learnt during tutoring.

Most vitally, it gave me something invaluable to share in my Initial Teacher Training (ITT) interview.

On the right path

Action Tutoring gave lots of amazing advice on lesson structure. We were well-connected with pupils and their teachers. This includes the school I tutored at having teachers that enabled the pupils to tutor. 

The kids behaved brilliantly too so I could focus on delivering maths sessions. Action Tutoring also provided many great resources including question sheets and question booklets.

Tutoring has helped me believe teaching is right for me. I really needed the experience and I’m grateful it has been really positive.

Now Teach’s support: Connection and much, much more

“Be a magpie, collect things.“

Now Teach has been hugely helpful. From updating me on the application process and presenting the different options, they showed me what would be tough and how to brace myself.

They introduced me to fellow trainees and it was great to be in WhatsApp groups with others making the career switch. The best part was connecting with other parents. About 10 of us had near identical experiences before teaching. We could share challenges and solve problems, which I would have been unable to do with anyone else. That network was amazing. Now Teach connected me to people who have written the book on being a teacher and a parent.

There was a person who gave me advice on collecting evidence throughout the postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE). It made it much easier. Be a magpie, collect things. It saved me so much stress compared to people who hadn’t had Now Teach’s advice.

There have also been fantastic lunch meet-ups where we compare notes. Through these, I sometimes feel like I’m constantly getting better. We meet older and newer cohorts and it is amazing to share words of encouragement to those joining the club.

Advice to those considering teaching or tutoring

Get as much experience as you can. Teaching is a completely different job from what you may have done. I love it though it isn’t for everyone. Try before you buy. Initial teacher training is a long time so make sure it is right for you. Teacher training is the hardest bit and knowing whether you like being with the pupils is important. If you can teach pupils something it gives you a great sense of satisfaction. The pupils really open your imagination. Do try teaching or tutoring, as it can be great.

Register your interest for tutoring

Not ready to take the plunge yet? Sign up below to register your interest for tutoring.

Join Now Teach network for free

If you want to explore changing careers this September, sign up to Now Teach via their short registration form below and join their network for free.

Celebrating Volunteers’ Week

This week, we’re celebrating 40 years of Volunteers’ Week to inspire more people to make a difference in their communities.

Be part of the week and join The Big Help Out

This year Volunteers’ Week will also lead up to The Big Help Out, from Friday 7th to Sunday 9th June. The event will give people the chance to experience a range of volunteer taster sessions. 

Find out more about volunteering as a tutor by signing up to our Big Help Out online information session, below. 

Meet our vital volunteer tutors

We chatted to some of this year’s Action Tutoring volunteer award winners to find out more about why they value volunteering.

Action Tutoring volunteer, Steve.

Steve is one of our many invaluable volunteer tutors. As an Action Tutoring Volunteer Awards 2024 winner, he knows first-hand the power of giving back. 

“I love the occasions when a pupil makes a connection or suddenly understands a concept,” Steve says. 

Action Tutoring volunteer tutor, Laura.

Laura feels similarly. A fellow volunteer award winner, Laura’s desire to become a teacher led her to join Action Tutoring as a volunteer tutor. 

A charity which supports pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds with their English and maths education, Laura was eager to sign up. 

“Action Tutoring’s values really align with mine as they aim to help every pupil who needs support,” Laura says.

“By volunteering, I enjoy knowing how much of a difference being a tutor can make for pupils.”

Action Tutoring volunteer tutor, Claire.

Claire certainly recognises the need to give pupils “a bit of extra support”, particularly during times of global change. Retiring early from banking just as Covid arrived, she was inspired to become a volunteer tutor to support children affected.

“I felt some children were disadvantaged by the lockdown and I wanted to do something to help,” Claire says.

“Volunteering with Action Tutoring was the perfect opportunity.”

Action Tutoring volunteer, Heather.

Heather also knows how volunteering as a tutor really matters. Currently a medical research scientist, her maths and literacy passion was also another motivating factor in her joining Action Tutoring. 

“The small skills learnt and continued practice soon add up to increase pupils’ knowledge enormously,” Heather says. 

“By volunteering, pupils benefit from this special session time to focus on learning in a way which works for them.”

Steve, Laura, Claire and Heather were chosen as Action Tutoring Volunteer Awards 2024 winners for going above and beyond. Put forward by our programme coordinators, they have completed more than 300 tutoring sessions between them since 2022. 

So what keeps them motivated to volunteer so often and for so long?

Steve, who recently retired from being a manager in engineering, adds: “It seems harder than ever for young people to find their way in life. 

“So I wanted to continue helping in some way and by volunteering, seeing the light of understanding in a pupil’s eyes is the most rewarding feeling of all.” 

Laura, who enjoys reading, walking and music in her spare time, adds: “I’ve had many volunteer tutor highlights. 

“I love making the sessions as enjoyable as possible for all. 

“Seeing the pupils get involved in sessions after they’d sometimes initially doubted themselves, makes me smile and want to volunteer.”

Heather, who is currently based in Oxford, adds: “I have a passion for supporting children to fulfil their potential in life. 

“By volunteering, you see how the children develop in confidence over time and work together in a supportive team.” 

And what about Claire, who has tutored more than 100 sessions since volunteering with Action Tutoring last year? 

“I love getting to know the children and showing them learning can be fun,” Claire says. 

“I love volunteering because if I can give young people that bit of extra support, it feels very satisfying; win win.”