By Joy Upchurch, Programme Director
It’s easy to sometimes assume that alumni networks are a ‘nice-to-have’ for schools – especially with the sector under pressure in so many ways.
However, with ten years’ experience helping nurture thriving networks across the country, we know that the support Future First offers schools helps them meet a range of priorities, in particular the Gatsby benchmarks and the Baker Clause.
When it comes to ‘linking curriculum learning to careers’, there are few better ways to achieve this objective than bringing a former student back to the classroom to talk about the relevance of their studies to the working world. Often this won’t be an obvious link, for example, we recently facilitated a former student of Stowmarket High School who owned a carpet shop to return and work with Year 8 Maths students to calculate carpet price by area and complete order forms.
Facilitating ‘encounters with employers and employees’ is at the heart of what Future First does. With a national network of 266,000 alumni volunteers, we were able to achieve encounters for nearly 70,000 students last year alone. Most importantly, these encounters are meaningful for students because alumni have relatable experiences, having sat at the very same desks and gone on to achieve success. This relatability can be crucial to inspire, motivate and nurture a student’s confidence to strive for a brighter future.
In the words of Nigel, a Year 10 student who benefitted from our work with Sydney Russell School in Dagenham, East London: “It makes a difference hearing from a former student because they are more relatable to our circumstances and they’ve been in our environment when they were my age, so I’m more inclined to listen to them than someone else.”
What do schools have to say about working with Future First? Watch below, or click here to view.
‘Experience of workplaces’ is another area where Future First can support schools and colleges. Your alumni can offer bespoke work shadowing and placement opportunities based on your students interests, and alongside this we offer a wide range of work placement opportunities with our employer partners. For example, every year around 90 students have the opportunity to benefit from Insight Days with leading City law firm and Future First employer partner, Taylor Wessing. A number of them then go on to take part in a mentoring programme at the company over several weeks and find this experience incredibly rewarding.
Beyond this, we are developing a range of free virtual work experience packs to provide opportunities for even more students across the country. These packs have proved really popular and offer a 5-day programme of activities and videos – so far we have covered careers in the voluntary and health & social care sectors. Finally, our work with Uni Connect partnerships across England is invaluable in supporting ‘encounters with further and higher education’. Last year we delivered programmes in partnership with Uni Connect covering Cumbria, South Yorkshire, the South West, the West Midlands and East Anglia, supporting 65 schools to help around 6,000 students to understand what it would be like to study at university and the steps needed to get there. We’ve found that hearing first-hand about the experiences of alumni helps break down the myths and stereotypes that often unnerve students about further and higher education.
Beyond the Gatsby benchmarks, Future First is able to provide crucial support in line with the Career Development Institute’s new framework and individual school improvement plans (SIPs). We know that closing the achievement gap features regularly on SIPs for many schools and colleges and bridging the divide between more privileged and disadvantaged pupils has always been key to Future First’s mission.
Many of our programmes over the years have focused on some of the most at-risk young people. For example, our three-year programme with Rothchild & Co. specifically targeted young people at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). The evidence is that the coronavirus pandemic has widened the gap between the more privileged and disadvantaged students, making our work more important than ever.
Building the resilience of students in the face of the fallout from the pandemic also features in many SIPs, a key priority when research has shown young people’s confidence for the future has been severely affected by the turmoil of the past year. For schools determined to close the achievement gap and build resilience among their pupils as part of their improvement plans, the confidence and resilience a thriving alumni network can provide could prove crucial. With creating aspiration and ambition, aiding in ‘transition’ phases, broadening the range of opportunities to promote personal development and work experience also featuring regularly on SIPs, there are compelling reasons for more schools and colleges to join Future First to develop their alumni network.
Of course, we know it is important for schools and colleges to evidence the impact of their progress and measurements are built into our programmes to provide this. Our Future First Pro membership programme has an evaluation framework embedded within it. Baseline and endline surveys with participating students at the beginning and end of the year will be used to show what has been achieved, and as one student from Neale Wade Academy put it: “When I think about my future now it’s different, I’ve got a lot more choice about what I’m going to do when I’m older, much more than I first thought. The alumni showed me that.”
View related content
Future First Pro
Our purpose
Our stories: school, student and alumni case studies
86-90 Paul Street, London, EC2A 4NE
info@futurefirst.org.uk
Future First is the public name for Future First Alumni Limited, a registered charity, number 1135638.
Investec has supported Future First since 2024. Our partnership is focused on the expansion of our Primary Programme, supporting the transition from primary to secondary education through mentors.
The IoP has supported Future First since 2021. Our partnership focused on governance of the Planet Possibility Consortium and the delivery of physics workshops and multi-year memberships to schools engaging with the programme which aims to increase diversity in the world of physics.
The Creative Education Trust has supported Future First since 2021. Our partnership has focused on providing multi-year memberships for 11 schools.
The Baily Thomas Charitable Foundation has supported Future First since 2021. Our partnership has focused on the provision of SEND careers workshops to pupils and alumni and careers training for teachers.
DRD Partnership works with Future First to provide young people from state schools and colleges with work experience opportunities and employer-based experiences.
The Drapers charitable function aims to improve the quality of life and expectations of people and communities in Greater London who are disadvantaged and socially excluded.
Thanks to The Drapers support, four schools across Camden and Hackney are able to motivate, inspire and provide relatable role models for their students through building alumni networks.
The Vintners’ Company charitable activity is set on breaking down the educational barriers facing young people from deprived backgrounds and helping to ensure that they get the best possible start in life.
Vintners is supporting schools in Newham to build alumni networks and provide access to relatable role models.
Pollen Street Capital is opening their doors to students in Year 10 and over from in and around London, to inspire and engage them about careers in the financial services industry. Offering support, networking and insight, this partnership with Future First will allow Pollen Street Capital to connect with up-and-coming talent.
Future First is delighted to be working in a ground-breaking partnership in Camden, delivering a community-led mentoring programme to support school inclusion work thanks to generous support from the Mayor of London.
Working with young people from in and around Cardiff, Eversheds Sutherland is one of largest full service law firms in the world. With offices across the UK, USA, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia, the company is striving to open up the industry and opportunities to disadvantaged students from the Welsh capital. For the next two academic years, our partnership will deliver a series of Insight days designed to give students in Year 11 & 12 the opportunity to visit their offices, meet employees and gain a valuable understanding of the roles and routes into Law, developing transferable skills from communication to team work.
Lumon is a UK foreign exchange service provider and has a growing team of over 150 ‘Lumoneers’. The company partnered with Future First to open up the FX industry to more young people, particularly disadvantaged children who wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to engage with these opportunities.
Since partnering with us, Lumon hosted multiple insight days where students were invited to their office to meet employees from different departments, take part in activities and experience different aspects of the industry.
AutoRaise promotes a range of technical apprenticeship paths to inspire young people around the vehicle repair industry. The organisation is working with Future First to present the sector to young people at schools and colleges as a rewarding and lucrative pathway, as well as highlighting apprenticeships as an alternative option to university or college.
Markerstudy is striving to improve opportunities for more young people by giving them exclusive insight into a career in the insurance services industry. Through a new partnership with education charity Future First, Markerstudy will offer state school and college students the support, advice and encouragement they need to consider a career in insurance services, allowing the business to connect with up-and-coming talent.
Please be patient, large uploads may take some time to complete.
Rothschild & Co. Charitable Giving Programme support Future First to develop and implement an innovative employability skills programme supporting young people at risk of being NEET (not entering education, employment or training).
Future first is delighted to be working with The Waterloo Foundation to build alumni networks in schools across Powys, South Wales
The Pears Foundation plays a key role in supporting Future First’s core work. Our partnership with The Pears Foundation has underpinned our national expansion and our transition to a more self-financing operating model. Their support has enabled us to have a bigger impact on students across our network of schools.
The Jack Petchey Foundation have supported Future First since 2013, providing subsidies for schools with the Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Award in London and Essex, which is now our largest region.
Garfield Weston Foundation is one of Future First’s flagship partners. Garfield Weston’s support has been vital to supporting our network of schools reach more of their former students and deepen the impact they have had on current students. The partnership has also played a key role in our transition to a more self-financing operating model. In 2021, Future First was awarded a grant of £50K to continue to extend our reach and impact and support more young people in state schools and colleges.
Future First is delighted to be working in a ground-breaking partnership in Camden, delivering a community-led mentoring programme to support school inclusion work thanks to generous support from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
Future First has received funding from the government’s Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC) since 2016 to boost social mobility by helping prepare young people for the world of work.
The Dulverton Trust has supported Future First since 2014. Our first partnership focused on supporting Future First’s work in the North-West. Currently, the focus is on underpinning Future First’s transition to a more self-financing operating model.
The Commercial Education Trust was one of the first supporters of Future First’s ‘Alumni in the Curriculum’ programme.. The programme sees former students return to their old classrooms to ‘co-teach’ elements of the curriculum, which relates to their jobs, demonstrating how the school curriculum links to the world of work.
This strand of our work has been developed to bring the curriculum to life and engage students by showing the practical application of learning.
The Blagrave Trust has supported the pilot of Future First’s In-House service. The project involves a Future First staff member working part-time on site to rapidly embed a culture of alumni engagement in each one. The In-House Alumni Officer for supports each school to build and grow their community of formers students to return to support today’s young people.
Former students often have specific expertise to offer: from coaching a football team, to running after school clubs or designing a new garden. They can also help the school or college community to flourish by acting as governors, combining knowledge of the local community with experiences and skills they’ve gained since leaving school.
Former students can play a key role in the delivery of the core curriculum. Returning to their old classrooms, alumni enrich the curriculum by co-delivering lessons related to their careers, helping build students’ understanding of the real world application of their learning and boosting their motivation.
Future First is delighted to be working with WeAreTheCity, connecting inspirational messages from their Rising Stars award winners with students in our schools and colleges. WeAreTheCity is a free, centralised hub and includes gender-related news, a networks directory, calendar of events and conferences, returnships, business schools, inspirational women profiles, HeForShe interviews, giving back and jobs.
State School Fundraising support state schools to build fundraising strategies, and have successfully helped a number of state schools to raise significant amounts. We are pleased to be working with State School Fundraising to pilot an approach to fundraising with alumni communities.
The Prince’s Trust supports young people between the ages of 11-30 into employment; education or training, helping to build both confidence and skills.
In 2019, the Prince’s Trust embarked on a project with The Department of Health and Social Care to support 10,000 young people (between the ages of 16-30) into jobs in the Health and Social Care sector by July 2024 and it is partnering with Future First to ensure that those involved services are prioritised for upcoming Prince’s Trust courses and services.
Future First is working with Northern Power Women (NPW) to give the next generation the support and encouragement they need to make a success of their lives, while also allowing businesses to connect with up-and-coming talent. NPW was born out of a need to accelerate gender equality in the North and currently has a 60,000-strong network.
There are approximately 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK. Mencap works to support people with a learning disability, their families and carers by fighting to change laws, improve services and access to education, employment and leisure facilities. Mencap supports thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want.
Governors for Schools is a national education charity that finds, places, and supports skilled volunteers as governors on school and academy boards. We work with schools and volunteers across England to improve education for children and young people through effective governance.
We have over 20 years’ experience matching volunteers with schools in need. Our skills-based matching service means your unique background and experience will be put to good use. Apply online and we’ll match your skillset to a school that needs you most.
Future First is pleased to be supporting Avado Learning with its flagship careers programme: FastFutures. FastFutures is a ground-breaking online work-readiness and personal skills programme for young people (18-22) from diverse backgrounds designed to prioritise underrepresented groups that are finding it harder than ever to enter the workplace. Founding Employer Partners, including Legal & General, Astra Zeneca, BT, Barclays, Tate & Lyle, AO.com, Octopus Investments, Health Education England, provide funding and mentoring to deliver this unique programme free of charge.
As an Employer Partner, ARC Pensions Law supports Future First’s work by inviting Year 12 students from Future First’s network of schools who are eligible for free school meals or have parents who did not attend university to complete a week’s work experience placement at their London and Leeds office locations. Students have the opportunity to experience all aspects of a modern law firm, developing their professional and employability skills for a future career in law.
ZING were one of Future First’s original supporters and have remained a key partner and critical friend throughout our development. ZING have continued to advise on and support Future First’s technology development. ZING co-founders Chris White and Robin Tombs (currently) have also both served on Future First’s board.
Wellcome and Future First partner to deliver Career Insight Days for young people at state schools in London. Staff from across the Trust participate, including those from communications, research, grants and investments departments. The volunteers coach and support students in creative activities designed to build students’ confidence and to help them identify their strengths.
Future First are partnering with Voi to help give young people first-hand insight into careers in STEM. Through our virtual insight days, and working in the local communities that Voi operate in, we will showcase the range of jobs available in the transport and technology sectors. These interactive sessions will help young people to feel more knowledgeable and confident about their futures and to develop their networking and employability skills through hearing directly from a diverse range of Voi employees.
UBS have funded Future First’s In-House programme in the Bridge Academy, Hackney. The programme is designed to provide the school with hands-on support from Future First staff to embed an alumni programme across the school. The Bridge Academy has their own dedicated Future Fist Alumni Officer, who spends part of their time ‘in house’ at the school, helping staff to build and manage their network of former students and tracking the destination of students as they leave each year.
Since 2010, international law firm, Taylor Wessing, have worked in close partnership with Future First collaborating on a number of social mobility programmes. The most recent ‘Aspiration to Application’ programme provides students with careers insights, skills workshops, mentoring relationships and work experience opportunities. Simultaneously the school alumni networks project provides inspirational and relatable role models to students at their own schools. These initiatives aim to equip young people to reach their full potential.
Taylor Wessing and Future First have worked closely to develop this unique programme of social mobility events, carefully designed to provide the best possible outcomes for students and volunteers alike. Taylor Wessing’s professional volunteers are able to share their experiences and skills drawn from a wide range of career paths for the benefit of a young person’s social mobility. Moreover, these volunteering opportunities encourage Taylor Wessing’s staff and clients to take part in skills-based volunteering – developing their own skills at the same time as helping young people with low social mobility.
Legal & General is a British multinational financial services company including investment management, lifetime mortgages, pensions, annuities, and life assurance. With our partnership, state school students with an interest in the financial services from Year 10-12 attend a virtual taster workshop. Acting as role-models in the world of work, volunteers from Legal & General participate in a Q&A panel and skills-building activities that develop students’ aspirations, employability skills and awareness of the world of work whilst providing an opportunity for Legal & General employees to gain awareness of issues regarding social mobility in the UK.
The Key and Future First partner to deliver Career Insight Days for young people at state schools in Plymouth and London. The whole day events aim to improve the employability skills and work readiness of Year 12 students. Staff from across the organisation volunteer their time, sharing their professional expertise in a variety of activities including CV writing, mock interviews and presentation skills workshops. Volunteers coach and support students, building their confidence and helping a young person understand the value of their own skills and strengths.
GatenbySanderson is a UK leading people intelligence business advising public services, not-for-profit and education sectors. As an employer partner, GatenbySanderson supports Future First’s work with young people by contributing volunteers to the national and local alumni networks who attend our in-school and virtual workshops. Their expert staff are well placed to support young people with employability skills activities such as CV writing, psychometric testing, interview advice and tips on future careers. GatenbySanderson also supports the Future First central team with training requirements, business support and fundraising.
The multinational law firm Ashurst partners with Future First on the First Steps Programme. The programme sees 60 Year 6 pupils from Bonner Primary School in Tower Hamlets, London visit Ashurst’s London offices for a series of five insight mornings that provide pupils with aspiration raising experience and increased awareness of the careers available on their doorstep. Supported by over 40 Ashurst employee volunteers the interactive programme enhances pupils’ awareness of the types of jobs they might want to do in the future, develops their understanding of the steps to pursuing them and, begins to build the confidence and skills needed to excel in their academic and working lives.
As an Employer Partner, ARC Pensions Law supports Future First’s work by inviting Year 12 students from Future First’s network of schools who are eligible for free school meals or have parents who did not attend university to complete a week’s work experience placement at their London and Leeds office locations. Students have the opportunity to experience all aspects of a modern law firm, developing their professional and employability skills for a future career in law.
