Fearless QBE Insurance fundraisers tackle challenge to support pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds

Epic fundraising

Action Tutoring is proud to be the UK community partner of the QBE Foundation. We’re delighted that through this partnership, during an epic fundraising week, QBE Insurance fundraisers united to support our cause.

Two volunteer teams battled the Thames Bridges Trek and the Royal Parks Half Marathon, raising over £10,000 in total! Read on to find out more about these fundraising adventures. 

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Following landmarks along the Thames Bridge Trek

Joining a collective 2,000 person walking group, our 26 Thames Bridges Trek QBE Insurance fundraisers followed a 10 or 25 kilometre route. Passing many iconic sights – heading east through the heart of the capital – the team finished at mighty Tower Bridge.

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QBE Insurance fundraisers run the roads at the Royal Parks Half

16,000 keen runners gathered together to take on the flat and scenic Royal Parks Half Marathon. 

One of our 10 QBE Insurance fundraisers, Chris, who managed a personal best, loved the buzzing atmosphere at race day.

Jonathan, another QBE Insurance fundraiser, also had a memorable and rewarding experience.

Our Fundraising Manager, Kate, was there to cheer on our amazing team.

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Fundraising success!

Our Thames Bridges team raised £3,408 and our Royal Parks team generated £7,084. This collectively amounts to an amazing £10,492! Thank you so much to the QBE Foundation for generously matching these donations!

This could provide high quality maths or English workbooks to 1,748 pupils, or vital noise-cancelling headphones for 327 online pupils!

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Celebrating the difference we make: Support our Christmas Challenge today

We’re thrilled to be taking part in this year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge. For our fifth time taking part, we aim to raise £12,000 to symbolise 12 years of our impactful programme delivery!

How it works

The Christmas Challenge is hosted by the Big Give and is the UK’s largest ‘match-funding’ campaign. Every donation made during campaign week, which takes place between Tuesday 3rd to 10th of December, is doubled by the ‘match-fund’ pot, added to by generous pledgers and our champion funders, The EQ Foundation. This means, during campaign week, one donation makes double the difference!

This festive season, can you support us to tackle educational inequality?

Opening doors to future opportunities

At Action Tutoring, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. We are working hard towards making this mission a reality by harnessing the power of volunteer tutors.

This year, we’re honouring our amazing volunteers with our #TheDifferenceWeMake theme. By giving just one hour a week, our tutors make a significant difference to the lives and futures of children and young people, helping them to overcome challenges, build confidence, and achieve their goals.

Watch our video

Click and play our video below to hear inspiring stories from our tutors about their most impactful moments.

Why we need your support

The attainment gap is the widest it has been in 12 years. Exacerbated by the pandemic, disadvantaged pupils are 19 months behind their more affluent peers by the end of secondary school.

A solution to combating the attainment gap? Tutoring. We know that high-quality and focussed tuition can make a huge impact on the lives of disadvantaged children and young people. Nationally in 2023, just 52% of disadvantaged pupils passed maths GCSE. This increases to 65% after at least 10 sessions of our tutoring support.

By coming together, we can work towards our vision of a world in which a child’s life chances are free from any limits of their socio-economic background.

Donate to our Christmas Challenge today

Each year, thousands of brilliant volunteer tutors help us make a difference by giving their time. To truly maximise our impact, we also rely on the power of donations. Your generous donation, however big or small, will directly fund vital programmes resources:

• High-quality maths or English workbooks: Providing pupils with engaging and effective learning materials.
• Noise-cancelling headphones: Vital for pupils to concentrate during online sessions.
• Enhanced DBS checks for volunteer tutors: Ensuring the proper safeguarding of all pupils and staff.

If you’re unable to make a donation, you can support our cause by spreading the word. Share this blog with friends, family, and on your social media platforms, using our hashtag #TheDifferenceWeMake.

Thank you for your support and kindness this festive season. Together, we can make a difference and inspire change.

From abseils to scootathlons: Fundraisers take on unique autumn challenges

Fundraisers across the country have been rallying around Action Tutoring this autumn organising extraordinary events. They have been able to raise significant funds and spread awareness about education inequality.

Keep reading to discover the incredible challenges they’ve taken on to support our pupils!

Scooting to success at an autumn fundraiser

Kicking off autumn’s fundraising, Susannah, Action Tutoring’s Founder and CEO’s son, Josh, took on a Scootathlon challenge. Consisting of a scoot, cycle, and run, at Impetus’ annual Triathlon event, Josh came in first, winning the whole race!

Josh raised an incredible £415 (£517.50 with Gift Aid!), which could provide online training for 166 of our volunteer tutors.

Reaching new heights

A staff team of six faced a daring challenge in another autumn fundraiser – abseiling off the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral!

It’s the largest cathedral in the UK, with the 100m free-fall abseil taking place above the west door.

The team collectively raised an incredible £1,659 rising to £1,956.76 with Gift Aid! This impressive total could provide high-quality maths or English workbooks to 121 tutor and pupil groups.

“Abseiling to honour my dad’s memory while raising funds for a cause like Action Tutoring, was an experience I will never forget. Getting to share the day and take on a new challenge with other colleagues made the day even more special.”

Adriana – Senior Curriculum and Training Coordinator and abseiler

Embracing the mud

Our Communications and Media Manager, Rebecca, and four friends, tackled a demanding 10K Wolf Run. The course featured freezing swims, muddy crawls, boggy scrambles, and 10ft obstacles!

The brave team raised £430, a total of £528.75 including Gift Aid. This could provide a year of face-to-face tutoring for an Action Tutoring pupil!

Pedalling with a purpose

Tackling an incredible feat, cycling 55 miles from London-Brighton, our team of four completed a sunny, scenic, and strenuous ride.

For this autumn fundraiser, in total, the team raised an outstanding £1,204, rising to £1,481.87 including Gift Aid. This amount could provide enhanced DBS checks for 132 of our volunteer tutors!

“I look forward to participating in more fundraising challenges in the future!”

Katy – London Programme Coordinator and cyclist

Take on a challenge in summer

If you’re feeling inspired to take on a cycle, wolf run, abseil, or scootahlon, get in touch with Molly via molly.cottrill@actiontutoring.org.uk. She can help organise your event, and provide fundraising support throughout your journey.

Or, want to take a spot on one of our 2025 running events next summer? See a full list below, and contact us if you’re interested in joining our friendly fundraising team.

Employee tackles an adapted triathlon to raise awareness and vital funds

Our Maths Curriculum Lead, Lucy, has gone above and beyond by completing an adapted Olympic triathlon fundraiser to fit her physical disability. The gruelling 8 hour event consisted of a 10km elliptical, 30km on a hand-bike and 1.5km swim.

Read on to discover why Lucy decided to take on this extraordinary event in July for our vital cause!

Raising awareness for accessible events

As you can see above from her LinkedIn post, Lucy has been a key champion of accessibility, raising awareness for her own disability and inspiring others to get involved with adapted events.

“I hope my participation in this adapted triathlon inspires others with disabilities to find ways to get involved and achieve their goals fearlessly.” – Lucy

Encouragement from friends, family, and colleagues

Words of praise and good luck spurred Lucy on for her adapted triathlon, pushing her to new boundaries.

“I’ve been overwhelmed with the support from my Action Tutoring colleagues, family, friends, and the wider community. Their encouragement gave me the courage to pursue this goal and embrace my unique capability.” – Lucy

Supporting our pupils with Lucy’s adapted triathlon

Smashing her original fundraising target, Lucy raised £915.49 including Gift Aid. This outstanding amount could provide enhanced DBS checks for 81 volunteer tutors, or high-quality workbooks for 176 pupils!

“The adapted triathlon was more than just a personal challenge; it was an opportunity to raise awareness and funds for Action Tutoring. Despite my physical disability, I was determined to push my boundaries and get involved with fundraising.” – Lucy

Get involved

If you want to take on an adapted event like Lucy, please get in touch with our Fundraising Coordinator, Molly, via molly.cottrill@actiontutoring.org.uk who can help you organise it.

Or, see our 2025 events (below) which all offer accessible participation for wheelchair users, disabled participants, and those requiring assisted runners.

Stand-up at The Leadmill: Rachael raises vital funds with comedy challenge!

Our Northern Programme Manager, Rachael, has courageously performed a stand-up comedy fundraiser in Sheffield. 

Confidently delivering her set in July at the famous Leadmill venue, Rachael’s eight-week UltraComedy training helped display her comedic talents.  

Read on as we discover the inspiring story of Rachael’s challenge, as she shares her setbacks and triumphs along the way.

The joy of making others laugh

Choosing comedy over a sporting fundraising challenge, Rachael says she loves making others laugh.

“One of the things I miss most about teaching is standing up in front of 28 pupils and making them laugh (I did teach them on occasion too!),” she says. “So, I thought it would be good to try some actual stand-up!”

Overcoming writer’s block

Crafting comedic material proved a formidable challenge for Rachael, as she grappled with a creativity block.

“I discovered that writing actual jokes is really difficult. Being funny in the pub with your friends is very different to standing up on stage and performing your own material.” – Rachael

Rachael’s perseverance shone through as she embraced the training, relishing the opportunity to meet new people and share creative ideas.

Battling the nerves

As it would be for most, the prospect of performing stand-up comedy was nerve-wracking for Rachael.

“I was okay in terms of feeling nervous right up to the day itself and then I found my emotions hard to manage! There were 27 acts in total and I was on 25th! Waiting such a long time whilst everyone else performed was really tough.” – Rachael

However, Rachael conquered her nerves and delivered a brilliant performance in the spotlight.

“I was glad that there were such bright spotlights shining on me so I was dazzled and couldn’t actually see anyone in the audience!” – Rachael

Fundraising success

Rachael had great fundraising success, raising an incredible £503.75 including Gift Aid.

This amount could provide enhanced DBS checks for 44 volunteer tutors, or high quality maths or English workbooks to 96 pupils!

“Watching the funds raised for Action Tutoring mount up was a great buzz.” – Rachael

Get out of your comfort zone

Rachael encourages anyone considering a similar challenge to take the plunge!

Want to get involved and help us support disadvantaged pupils to unlock their academic potential? Email molly.cottrill@actiontutoring.org.uk to discuss your fundraising idea!

My Smoke Ring challenge for Action Tutoring

175 miles, one ripped tyre and a whole lot of learning

Blog written by Action Tutoring’s Nich Bull:

On Friday 5th July this year I took on the challenge of a lifetime – the Smoke Ring 2024; a gruelling 200 mile off-road bike ride around London raising money for Action Tutoring.

The ride is definitely a brutal test. Overall it was a super wet night, constant pedalling for nearly 20 hours, and the significant physical and mental strain that comes with pushing yourself to the limit.

While I didn’t quite make it the full 200 miles, I still managed 175 miles as a ripped tyre forced me to stop around 10 am on Saturday. Disappointment? Sure. But this ride wasn’t just about the finish line. It was a journey of self-discovery, and it taught me some invaluable lessons that I want to share with you.

Resilience and the power of learning from failure

The Smoke Ring was altogether the most challenging thing I have ever done. It certainly pushed me to my absolute physical and mental limits. But you know what? It also shows me the power of resilience and the importance of learning from failure.

Now, I have a year to analyse what went wrong and return stronger next time. Going forward, I will look to prepare different tools and strategies. That’s the beauty (and sometimes frustration) of pushing your boundaries – you learn what works and what doesn’t.

The importance of evidence-based action in overcoming challenges

This experience got me particularly thinking about the importance of resilience and learning from failure in a broader sense – not just for individuals, but also for organisations. Research shows that the best organisations are the ones that embrace failure as a learning opportunity. They take stock of what went wrong, analyse the data, and use that information to improve.

A core Action Tutoring value is basing our work on evidence. We especially focus on analysing our results, even when they’re not what we specifically hoped for. This allows us to constantly improve and make a bigger impact on the lives of the children we serve.

Maybe we all need to get better at embracing evidence-based failure. By learning from our mistakes, we can grow stronger and achieve even greater things.

This Smoke Ring challenge may not have ended with me crossing the finish line, but the journey of learning and growing is far from over. Together, let’s keep pushing forward, embracing challenges, and positively impacting the world.

Support Action Tutoring and keep the journey going

If you feel inspired by Action Tutoring’s mission and Nich’s Smoke Ring challenge, there are a few ways you can get involved:

• Take up a challenge yourself: See a list of our events here or get in contact with our Fundraising Coordinator, Molly, molly.cottrill@actiontutoring.org.uk if you have your own event in mind.
• Corporate partnerships: Are you looking to get your company involved in a cause that matters? See more information here or get in contact with our Corporate Partnerships Manager, Mollie, directly on mollie.vessey@actiontutoring.org.uk.
• Volunteer as a tutor: Share your knowledge and make a real difference in a child’s life. Sign up to volunteer below!

10 formidable fundraisers challenge themselves at the London 10k!

Ten fearless runners have raised over £3,000 for Action Tutoring by taking on the Saucony London 10k.

Cheered on by family and friends, fundraisers completed the flat and urban route, supporting pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds across England.

Read on to find out about how our runners triumphantly crossed the finish line on this fantastic day of fundraising.

Fantastic day at the London 10k

On Sunday 14th July, London’s streets were not filled with the usual traffic. Instead, 13,000 keen runners completed the London 10k, surrounded by sun and blue skies.

Starting in Piccadilly, passing many iconic landmarks, and finishing near Parliament Square, the route was made  for a personal best!

“Running through the beautiful streets of London was an exhilarating experience, and it was made even more special knowing that every step taken was towards supporting Action Tutoring.” – Ashutosh, fundraiser

Booming atmosphere and iconic London 10k route

The London 10k is renowned for its carnival-like atmosphere, and this year’s event was no exception, with roaring music and applauding supporters.

“The atmosphere throughout the run was amazing, people cheering and music blaring was so much fun and helped push me on.” – Eluario, fundraiser

Running past incredible sights like Big Ben, the London Eye, and the River Thames made for an unforgettable experience. Westminster Bridge even brought a welcome surprise!

“Reaching Westminster Bridge and having people shoot water guns to help cool us all down for the last couple of kilometres was a much-needed blessing and so much fun for everyone involved.” – Gabe, staff fundraiser

Best-friend duo

The camaraderie shared between friends can be a powerful motivator for taking on a personal challenge. Running the race as a duo, Gabe and Eluario created a lasting memory as they ran side-by-side.

“Running with one of my best mates made the experience so much better as we were able to push each other.” – Gabe, staff fundraiser

They both attributed their success to the mutual encouragement they provided throughout the race, helping them push through to the finish line.

Keeping the cause in mind

Driven by their commitment to our cause, our runners maintained high motivation and determination throughout their training and on race day.

“Knowing that our efforts will support educational needs for those who require extra help made it all worthwhile.” – Bernard

Not only did they raise vital funds, but our team pushed themselves physically and mentally to achieve their goals.

“Running for such a great cause was a huge motivator, making me push myself to complete the race and finish it in as fast a time as possible.” – Eluario, fundraiser

“This event was not just about pushing my physical limits but also about contributing to a cause close to my heart.” – Ashutosh, fundraiser

Victorious fundraising

All their hard work paid off! The team raised an incredible £3,049.93, rising to £3,321.80 with Gift Aid.

This could provide an incredible 610 high quality pupil workbooks, or online training for 1,071 volunteer tutors.

A huge thank you to QBE, of which Action Tutoring is the UK community partner of their foundation. We are grateful to them for matching the donations of their four runners in this race.

“A huge well done to our team of 10 who took on this personal achievement whilst fundraising for our important work. Our vision is a world in which no child’s life chances are limited by their socio-economic background. We couldn’t achieve this without you. Thank you!” – Hannah O’Neill, Head of Philanthropy

Fundraise for us

Do you want to get involved in a fundraising challenge for us? We might just have the opportunity for you!

Contact our Fundraising Coordinator, Molly, at molly.cottrill@actiontutoring.org.uk for a full list of our events. You can also check out our Fundraising Pack for all the ways you can support us.

Fundraisers tackle Hackney Half to end education inequality

The atmosphere for the Hackney Half marathon was electrifying. A field of over 20,000 runners were ready to push their minds and bodies to the finish line. Among them, our dedicated Action Tutoring team – a powerful force of 10 volunteers, staff members, QBE corporate partner employees, and supporters.

Buzzing atmosphere

The energy of thousands of cheering fans at the Hackney Half marathon was contagious. Joining the high spirits to support our fundraisers was our Corporate Partnerships Coordinator, Anisa. 

“There was an incredible buzz not just at the event, but across the whole neighbourhood! It was so inspiring to see the sea of coloured t-shirts for the many charities people were supporting.”
Anisa

Our very own London Senior Programme Coordinator, Amber, echoes the positive vibes of race day.

“This was my first half marathon, and it was an amazing experience from start to finish! The atmosphere on the day was fantastic, with live music, cheering crowds, and plenty of water and sweets to keep me going.”
Amber

Challenging conditions

The relentless sun beat down on the runners throughout the race. However, our QBE fundraiser, Michael, bravely didn’t let the heat stop him from getting his personal best (PB)!

“The weather on race day was a scorcher, which was great for the spectators, but made the running conditions a bit more challenging! I am very happy to have completed the race without stopping in 2:12. Not bad for a first attempt!”
Michael

Highly recommended!

For those seeking personal growth and a rewarding feeling, Michael suggests taking on a similar challenge.

“The event was great fun and very well organised with amazing support throughout the race and music/food/drink all going on at the finish line. I would highly recommend signing up to any future events.

I would also like to thank Action Tutoring for making this happen. I hope the money raised will go some way in helping support your pupils and volunteers!”
Michael

Amber, who has first-hand experience with the transformative power of tutoring, also reflects on this impactful experience.

“It was wonderful to run for a purpose and fundraise for a cause I truly care about. As someone who has tutored in various schools, I’ve seen the positive impact these sessions have on pupils.”
Amber

Fundraising champions

The Hackney Half team raised an incredible £3,197, rising to £3,757 with Gift Aid. This incredible amount could provide 648 high quality workbooks for our volunteer tutors, or could provide a full year of tutoring for 7 pupils.

A special thank you to QBE, of which Action Tutoring is the UK community partner of their Foundation, for matching their employee, Michael’s, donations!

“A huge congratulations to our team who ran in the Hackney Half marathon for our vital cause. We admire your outstanding training and fundraising efforts. We couldn’t achieve a world in which no child’s life chances are limited by their socio-economic background without you. Thank you!”
Hannah O’Neill, Head of Philanthropy

Get involved

Are you inspired to take on a sponsored challenge for Action Tutoring? 

You can support young people who need it most by fundraising for a challenge such as a hike, cycle, walk, or run. Find out more and become a fundraiser below.

Fundraisers take on the Bristol 10k for disadvantaged pupils

Five formidable fundraisers completed the Bristol 10k to raise crucial funds for pupils facing disadvantage across England.

Over 15,000 participants took on the route, passing stunning views and famous graffiti murals, whilst pushing their physical limits.

Read on to hear why our fundraisers took on this challenge to support the cause.

Dedicated support team

Our runners enjoyed some fantastic support on the day.

Staff from various departments of our organisation turned up to support, including Senior Bristol Programme Coordinator, Chloe, Senior Engagement Coordinator, Abby and Bristol and Sussex Programme Manager, Rachel.

Chloe reflects on the buzzing atmosphere of the day.

It was brilliant cheering on the runners at the Bristol 10k! There’s always such a great energy on the day, from both runners and supporters. – Chloe

Abby made a race day poster for Freya. It wasn’t just for cheering her on. The poster, which Freya loves, now holds a pride of place on her bedroom wall!

Dad and daughter duo

Freya, our Senior Bristol Programme Coordinator, teamed up with her dad, David, to conquer the race. It was a fantastic experience they’ll both cherish.

The race was much better than I expected! I was really happy that I achieved my goal of not stopping to walk. It was so good to run with my dad and to see the other fundraisers after the race. – Freya

Being mindful of the heat, Freya’s advice to future runners is to make sure you keep hydrated!

It was really hot and we didn’t know when we ran past the water station that there wasn’t going to be another one, so my advice to future fundraisers would be to grab two water bottles because you never know if there’s another water station on the route! – Freya

Fundraising success!

The team of five raised an incredible £955.17, rising to £1175.93 with Gift Aid!

This amount could provide a year of face-to-face tutoring for 2 pupils. It could also provide 203 high quality workbooks for face-to-face tutors.

Congratulations to our five fantastic fundraisers who worked tirelessly to raise funds for our pupils by running the Bristol 10k. Our vision is a world in which no child’s life chances are limited by their socio-economic background. We couldn’t achieve this vision without you, thank you! – Hannah O’Neill, Head of Philanthropy

Get involved

Do you want to get involved in a fundraising challenge for us? We might just have the opportunity for you!

We’re currently looking for fundraisers to join our team for the London-Brighton Cycle Ride (55 miles) in September. Contact our Fundraising Coordinator, Molly, at molly.cottrill@actiontutoring.org.uk, or sign up via the link below!

Fuelling futures, month by month: how Payroll Giving powers Action Tutoring

Every February, charities, Payroll Giving agencies, professional funding organisations, and companies come together to raise awareness of Payroll Giving.

Payroll Giving (sometimes known as Give as You Earn) is an easy and tax-efficient way of making regular donations to your favourite charities straight from your gross pay. There are many benefits to this form of giving, and at Action Tutoring, we advocate it as an efficient and effortless way to support our mission and help us tackle the attainment gap head-on. Read on to learn about Payroll Giving and how you can set it up in three simple steps!

Impactful giving

Supporting Action Tutoring through payroll giving allows us to continue our vital work across the country, supporting over 5,700 pupils to achieve their dreams. We believe that disadvantaged pupils do not lack the drive or ambition, but the resources to help them succeed academically. A steady donation stream coming in monthly allows us to plan ahead with this vital work, and a seemingly small monthly contribution can add up to make a real difference in a child’s life.  

£5 a month could provide online tutor training for a volunteer tutor

and £10 a month could provide a high quality workbook for a face-to-face pupil.

Convenience and ease

Donating to Action Tutoring by a Payroll Giving Scheme is super easy and convenient! Donations are taken straight from your gross salary (before your tax is deducted) which provides you with immediate tax relief on your donations. 

Depending on your individual tax situation, you could receive tax relief on each one of your donations. Take the example of a high tax rate such as 40% to begin: on a £20 pledge you could reclaim £8 from your tax bill, effectively reducing your net contribution to £12. With Payroll Giving, regardless of whether your tax situation is higher (45% allows £9 tax relief from £20) or lower (20% allows £4 tax relief from £20), your donation will go further at less of a cost to you.

Set up Payroll Giving today!

You can set up payroll giving by following these three easy steps.

1. Check your employer is signed up to a Payroll Giving Agency, like the Charities Aid Foundation.
2. Ask your payroll team to set you up on payroll giving. It’s as simple as ticking a box on your payroll system!
3. Choose Action Tutoring as your charity of choice and set the amount you want to give each payday. No matter how big or small, your donation will make a difference.

Please share this with others too, by resharing the blog on social media and engaging with our content about Payroll Giving this month on Action Tutoring’s social media platforms, using the hashtag #PayrollGivingMonth.

“Payroll Giving is a great way to support Action Tutoring. These donations enable us to plan ahead with our vital work. It’s a really effortless way for employees to donate to us and helps us reach more disadvantaged pupils that need our support to achieve their dreams”

Hannah O’Neill, Head of Philanthropy

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