Our Reach: Sussex

Why volunteer as a tutor in Sussex

Both East and West Sussex are home to busy cities, miles of beachfront and picturesque villages. Despite the reputation of privilege the south east holds, there are also many pockets of deprivation.

Sussex’s most deprived areas include Brighton, Crawley and Hastings. In 2019-20, over 20,000 children in west Sussex were living in families with low incomes, with the highest total in Crawley (18% of the population). Child poverty figures were at 24% in Hove in 2020.

Evidence shows that pupils from low income families are less likely to perform well in school, since there are more obstacles in the way of their academic progress (such as lack of access to technology or extra resources). This limits their opportunities later in life, whether they’re applying for apprenticeships, studying A-Levels or seeking employment. Action Tutoring is committed to improving the academic outcomes of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

We have been working with schools in Sussex to support disadvantaged pupils since 2014. Action Tutoring is committed to improving the academic outcomes of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, demonstrated through our impact data. Read on to find out how you can support these children by volunteer tutoring in Sussex.

My tutor is ten out of ten. [In a recent exam] I could remember some of the stuff she’d told me about and I used it and it definitely helped me get a higher mark. 

I think it’s definitely helped my communication skills because I never liked to talk to people I don’t know, but it’s been nice to talk to someone who’s genuinely there to help me. It’s gonna help me get that [grade] 4 that I really want to get. Quite literally, [tutoring has been] a major deciding factor in my life. It’s definitely one thing that’s helped me. 

Cohen, Year 11 pupil at Seaford Head School in East Sussex

Action Tutoring in Sussex

Working with multiple schools across England has helped us recognise the needs of schools and better understand the demands and pressures that schools are under, especially after the pandemic. Since launching in Hove in 2014, we have been working with volunteers to deliver tutoring programmes in a number of schools.

We do more than just tutor. Our volunteers also serve as role models, motivating pupils to overcome learning barriers and achieve their potential in life. We are working hard to grow our volunteer tutor community in Sussex and are keen to engage more volunteers locally to support our face-to-face programmes.

Both parents and pupils have appreciated the individualised guidance and we have found the volunteer tutors to be professional and they develop good relationships with the children.”

Julia Sherlock, Headteacher, Eastbrook Primary Academy, Sussex

By tutoring in Sussex for just one hour a week, you will directly support disadvantaged pupils to build their confidence and help ensure they leave school with the grades needed to build a bright future, as well as developing your own skills. 

Some of our current volunteering opportunities in Sussex take place with pupils from the following partner schools:

Find out more information about becoming a volunteer or partnering as a school in Sussex.

Sussex Programme Team

• Rachel Roberts (Programme Manager for Bristol and Sussex )
• Aimee Garner (Senior Programme Coordinator for Sussex)
• Tristan Brolly (Programme Coordinator for Sussex (paternity leave))