Scaling social mobility in the West Midlands

Why collaborative philanthropy is the future

The “Inspiring Futures” initiative, led by The Rigby Foundation, isn’t just a grant – it’s a ground-breaking £3 million blueprint for place-based change. As a key partner in this nine-charity consortium, rising to 11 next academic year, Action Tutoring is proving how strategic, multi-year investment can transform educational outcomes in the UK’s highest-poverty regions.

The power of place-based collaboration

Poverty in the West Midlands is a complex challenge; the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s 2025 report highlights that the region faces the UK’s highest poverty rate at 27%. Tackling this requires more than isolated interventions.

Through the Inspiring Futures programme, Action Tutoring works alongside eight other charity partners to support the holistic needs of pupils in Birmingham.

Proven impact: beyond the numbers

Over the course of the partnership, Action Tutoring will be supporting 480 pupils in maths and English across the West Midlands, currently targeting the critical transition points of Year 7 and the high-stakes environment of Year 10 in Year 11 of the partnership.

Investment in this programme at partner schools like STAR Small Heath Leadership Academy is already delivering a measurable “confidence dividend.” During a recent site visit, representatives from The Rigby Foundation witnessed the “palpable intensity” of the classroom – a direct result of pairing trained volunteer tutors with pupils who have the drive to succeed, but lack the resources of their wealthier peers.

“Entering the classroom, the intensity of the pupils’ focus was palpable. What stood out most was the sense of genuine connections; tutors who clearly care deeply and pupils who are keen to grow.” 

Jemima Waltho, The Rigby Foundation Partnerships Manager

A call to action for Foundations: why partner with Action Tutoring?

For foundations looking to drive systemic change, Action Tutoring offers a scalable model that combines:

• Evidence-backed delivery: Our rigorous annual analysis ensures that every pound invested is backed by the numbers. 
• Operational excellence: As seen at STAR Small Heath, our Programme Coordinators manage the logistics, allowing school leaders to focus on teaching while we focus on closing the attainment gap.
• Data transparency: We provide reporting on pupil progress and engagement, giving our foundation partners a clear view of their social ROI.

“I was very anxious and reserved at the start, but my tutor helped me come out of my shell and build my confidence. I really connected with how he explained things to me.”

Pupil at partner programme

Following our success in Birmingham, we are seeking partners to replicate this collaborative model in other areas across the country. Contact our Head of Philanthropy, Hannah O’Neill (hannahoneill@actiontutoring.org.uk), for more information about partnering with us, or discover more about our work:

Who are our volunteers? Celebrating the faces behind the impact

This Volunteers’ Week, we are turning the spotlight on the incredible individuals who make our mission possible. At Action Tutoring, we often talk about our brilliant volunteer community. Behind that term are real people – tutors who give an hour of their week to ensure that a child’s background doesn’t define their future.

So, who exactly are our volunteers? The truth is: there is no “typical” tutor. Our community is a vibrant tapestry of retirees, corporate professionals, university students, and aspiring teachers.

The career explorers

For many, volunteering is the “keystone” that turns an interest in education into a career. Jack Smith, a student at Liverpool Hope, joined as soon as he turned 18. For him, tutoring provided a “head start” on his PGCE, offering a deep dive into pedagogy and behaviour management that a textbook simply couldn’t provide.

Similarly, Khusbu transitioned from a university work placement to a teacher training course. “Being exposed to pupils within a school environment gives you experiences that cannot be gained elsewhere,” she notes. She found that watching pupils move from finding maths “boring” to genuinely enjoying their progress was the ultimate reward.

The lifelong learners

Retirement isn’t the end of a journey; for many of our tutors, it’s a new chapter of impact. Paul Webster, a longstanding senior editor at The Guardian, spent decades championing the disadvantaged through journalism. After retiring in 2024, he decided to move from the newsroom to the classroom.

“After many decades in journalism, I decided I wanted to give something back,” Paul says. For him, the experience has been “fascinating” and “stimulating,” offering a fresh perspective on the educational issues he once covered as a reporter.

The corporate changemakers

We also have a dedicated cohort of professionals who balance tutoring with their busy working lives. Adam, a corporate volunteer who leads a team at work, found that the classroom is the best place to hone leadership skills. “Tutoring exaggerates the lesson of ‘you get what you give’,” he explains. For Adam, volunteering is a practical way to tackle growing inequality: 

Aimilia, another corporate tutor, reminds us that you don’t need a teaching degree to make a difference: “The material has everything you need to tutor… but you do need to have the sensitivity and the willingness to connect with the pupils.”

The subject enthusiasts

For others, tutoring is about sharing a passion. Natasha, an Open University student, wanted to share her love of Literature and Creative Writing while preparing for her own teacher training. For her, the impact was personal as well as professional.

“Volunteering supported me in my recovery by helping me to build a structure… it reminds me that having a disability doesn’t limit me,” she shares. Through online tutoring, she developed “emotional awareness” and confidence that have filtered into every other area of her life.

A common thread

Whether they are 18 or 70, in a boardroom or a dorm room, our volunteers share one common belief: every child deserves a chance to succeed. Our tutors are role models, motivators, and mentors. They provide the “sticky knowledge” that helps a child pass a SATs exam or secure a Grade 5 at GCSE, opening doors that might otherwise have remained closed.

Join us this autumn

Our summer term is currently full. We are now looking ahead to the next academic year and building our autumn 2026 cohort.

Will you join the faces of Action Tutoring? You don’t need to be a teacher – you just need an hour a week and a desire to make a difference.

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