“The greatest vehicle for progression”: A conversation with Maro Itoje

What happens when world-class leadership on the rugby pitch meets a relentless passion for social justice? You get a partnership designed to “power potential” in the heart of our communities. 

In 2025, The Pearl Fund – the philanthropic initiative founded by British Lions and Saracens Captain Maro Itoje – expanded its work into the UK, partnering with Action Tutoring to deliver targeted academic support for young people facing disadvantage.

Rooted in Maro’s British-Nigerian heritage, The Pearl Fund was established to widen access to education across both Nigeria and the UK. The Pearl Fund was launched in 2023 in Nigeria which is home to some of the highest numbers of out of school children globally. Currently, the Fund supports 40 children in one of Lagos’ most deprived areas from cradle to college with financial support for their families, clean water, and nutrition. Keen to support in his country of birth and recognising the widening attainment gap in the UK, Maro chose Action Tutoring as the Fund’s first UK charity partner to deliver targeted educational support to young people in London.

Alongside this work, the Fund’s expansion into London reflects a growing need for targeted academic support closer to home. In England, the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers remains significant and, in recent years, has widened. In boroughs such as Tower Hamlets, where this programme is focused, progress sits alongside persistent inequality, with many pupils still facing structural barriers to achieving their full potential, particularly in the wake of the pandemic.

To deliver impact in the UK, The Pearl Fund selected Action Tutoring as its first delivery partner – bringing a proven, evidence-based approach to supporting pupils in maths and English. Together, they are now supporting over 30 primary school pupils in East London through targeted tutoring.

On 25th March, Maro visited St Paul’s Way Trust and The Clara Grant Primary School to see the programme in action. We sat down with him to discuss why this mission is so personal, the “heart-filling joy” of the classroom, and why education remains the ultimate tool for self-determination.

Why did you start The Pearl Fund?

We started The Pearl Fund because I’ve always felt a responsibility to give back – but to do it in a way that is sustainable, long-term, and where you can clearly see the impact on young people’s lives.

Why did The Pearl Fund decide to partner with Action Tutoring?

We were looking to partner with a UK-based organisation to help deliver our programmes in London. The Pearl Fund is all about education, and there were so many synergies with what Action Tutoring was doing – particularly in the education space and with this tuition programme.

Once we started talking, it became clear that Action Tutoring was the right fit for what we were trying to achieve.

How was it seeing a tutoring programme in action today?

I was very impressed. Very impressed by the children, by the tutors, and the work that they’re doing. It filled my heart with joy to see how engaged the children were and how much they were enjoying it. I’m very happy that I came to see it.

What difference do you think it will make for the pupils on the programme?

I think the difference it will make is enormous. These are children facing learning challenges, often from difficult socioeconomic backgrounds, so they are doubly disadvantaged. It could be the difference between passing and failing their exams.

At the age they are, it’s critical that they catch up. I was told today that many are still impacted by the effects of Covid – both in terms of their learning and the environment they were learning in. Programmes like this help accelerate that development.

What are your hopes for these pupils’ futures?

To pass their exams and to grow in confidence. But my long-term hope is that they are able to take control of their own stories. That their education gives them the ability to choose their path – whether that’s through school, university, or another route. When you have an education, you have that freedom.

What would you say to the current volunteers?

Keep going; the work that you’re doing is amazing. It is well-appreciated by the kids and everyone else involved in the programme. They’re a fundamental part of this programme because without the volunteers we wouldn’t be able to do this, so thank you. 

What would you say to anyone considering volunteering as a tutor?

I think with all this type of work, you often end up getting more from it than the children! The children definitely benefit and the impact on them is huge, but in terms of what the volunteers get from it: what they experience fills their heart with joy. So, I would encourage any volunteer who is thinking about it: I think you should just try it, and if you try it, I almost guarantee that they will stay in the long term. 

What would you say to schools considering programmes like this?

Do it, because the impact on the kids will be amazing! The impact on their education and their future lives will be amazing, and I think the evidence is there for all to see. I would encourage all the schools who are considering it to go for it. 

Finally — why does a good education matter?

I think it is potentially the greatest vehicle we have as human beings for progression. It’s something that cuts across socioeconomic backgrounds. It cuts across borders. It cuts across race or any other social demographics. It ultimately gives individuals the power and the ability to control their future destiny, and that’s what we all want as individuals. Education is key to that. 

A legacy beyond the pitch

Maro’s visit serves as a powerful reminder that the attainment gap is not just a statistic – it is a hurdle that can be cleared with the right support. Throughout our conversation, Maro highlighted that tutoring is “the difference between passing and failing” for pupils facing double disadvantages, particularly those still navigating the “learning scars” left by the pandemic.

His message is clear: education is the “greatest vehicle for progression” because it transcends borders, socioeconomic status, and race. By providing pupils with the tools to “control their future destiny,” the partnership between The Pearl Fund and Action Tutoring is doing more than just improving test scores; it is giving young people in East London the agency to write their own stories.

As Maro noted, this work wouldn’t be possible without our volunteers. Whether you are a school leader looking to close the gap or an individual looking for a “heart-filling” way to give back, the evidence is there for all to see: tutoring works.

Find out more 

To find out more about The Pearl Fund and their work, please visit The Pearl Fund website.