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Barclays new futures
Research by Barclays, through MORI and consultation
with employees, found that developing the
training and education skills of young people
should be a top priority for future community
related investment. By encouraging young
people to engage with challenging issues
in their communities, Barclays recognised
that it could facilitate skill development
while improving people’s lives.
Barclays charged Kallaway with the development
and implementation of a national programme
that would achieve these goals. In consultation
with DfES,OfSTED and Community Service Volunteers
(CSV), Kallaway created Barclays New Futures–
the UK’s largest educational sponsorship
programme.
Barclays New Futures awards £1m in
funds to schools around the country to support
student-led activities in their communities.
The activities must enable the students
to address important social issues relevant
to them. Each year, Kallaway develops application
materials, invites schools to apply for
the awards, and coordinates the judging
of the applications. The winning projects
are run in collaboration with CSV’s
education advisers.
Examples of successful programmes include
a school with a high rate of teenage parenthood
whose students created and ran a crèche
for pupils. The work served to integrate
students ostracised by early parenthood,
while helping others understand the challenging
issues surrounding teenage sex and pregnancy.
Another school, near Holloway women’s
prison, worked with prisoners in the mother
and baby unit to improve facilities for
incarcerated mothers.
Over 800 schools have received awards, 100,000
students have been directly involved and
over 500,000 people directly benefited from
Barclays New Futures. The scheme has been
covered in more than 2,500 press articles
across the regional and national media.
The DfES and the Qualifications and Curriculum
Association have recognised the scheme as
an example of best practice when drafting
the citizenship element of the National
Curriculum. The scheme has helped Barclays
position itself as leader in citizenship
education.
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