Meet the Future First team: Naomi Barker, Programme Director
Where are you from, and where do you live now? What do you like about those places?
I grew up in Scarborough and friends joke about the fact that its all I talk about (members of the FF team would probably agree). I actually didn’t love it growing up but it has really shaped who I am in a lot of ways. It is a place with a lot of social challenges and inequality but some fantastic fierce people working to change that. I’m always astounded by the power of the grass roots work which is quietly done everyday to tangibly improve the lives of local people. And that’s a lot of what made me want to work in the charity sector. I now live in London which growing up I would have seen as ‘posh’ ‘affluent’ and somewhere where it was easy to get on in life. I first came to London for university, attracted by being in a big and diverse city. Over the years I’ve learnt that my external perception of London as a child wasn’t accurate and it is a city with many of its own challenges. It is my favourite place and the place I now feel most at home, but I increasingly feel as though its a ‘tale of two cities’ with the experience of living here very different depending on your background.
What did you study at college/university and why?
Kings College London – I was completely influenced by my favourite teacher at college (shout out to Anna Lewis from York College) whose daughter (also called Naomi) was studying there at the time. I also approached searching for a uni a bit differently as I had no idea what course I wanted to study, so picked KCL for the course as much as for the university itself. I studied Religion, Philosophy and Ethics which I chose because of the breadth of topics covered. When I first considered applying I actually didn’t know KCL was such a reputable university, and hadn’t heard of it myself, but always felt a bit proud of myself when people were impressed that I had a place!
Tell us about your career history, from your part-time jobs to how you got here
My first job was working in a local hotel waitressing and I worked there in total for around 8 years, working alongside study and working my way up to a duty manager. I learnt so much from working in hospitality and it pushed me out of my comfort zone a lot, I remember the first time I had to call a customer and feeling wracked with nerves at speaking on the phone to a stranger. I also did some babysitting at the same time from around the age of 14 until I went to university and volunteered locally for a literature festival, with the local Brownies and a local community organisation. Throughout university I tended to have about three jobs at any one time, keeping my job back at home, working at the uni bar, working in a language school and participating in some scientific trials at my university! I also volunteered on two society committees – art society and amnesty international society. It was my time working at the language school which encouraged me to consider a career in teaching and I was drawn to Teach First in particular because of the focus on fighting educational inequality (as well as the fact that I wouldn’t be left in debt from fees for a PGCE). I then became a teacher working mostly in a secondary school on the Isle of Wight. I had always wanted to do an MA so left teaching for a while to pursue that and whilst studying worked as a waitress at the university. It felt strange going from the high pressure and long hours of teaching to a job which whilst pressured at time has fixed hours and clear start and finish times. It gave me the reset I needed to consider what I wanted to do longer term which is what eventually led me to Future First! Working here has allowed me to combine my passion for fighting educational inequality with the skills from teaching and I feel I can have a greater impact on young people than in the classroom but still have rewarding interactions with students.
What are you passionate about?
So many things! On a personal level I’m motivated by learning new things and I love exploring deep questions/analysing everything – from serious issues like access to higher education to frivolous things like dynamics between characters on reality TV shows.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Reading, going to the theatre, running, I watch A LOT of TV and listen to a lot of podcasts. I go to Hay Literature festival every year and also love music festivals.
What’s it like working in the education/charity industry?
Really rewarding and dynamic, no two days are the same and I really like the variety of the work. It is challenging because there are no easy fixes to the issues we are facing, but I enjoy feeling a part of a broader movement for change. I also find the relationships you build with stakeholders and school/college contacts really rewarding.
What have been your work highlights from the past few weeks?
Definitely attending some of our workshops and seeing some really wholesome and worthwhile interactions between alumni and current students. Even after attending hundreds of our workshops I often come away with a nugget of wisdom myself from the alumni and never get tired of seeing the students grow in confidence.
What’s one unusual or interesting fact about you?
I always find this question impossible because I’m really quite boring. At our recent team day I used the fact that I’ve met Margaret Atwood three times and because I go to Hay every year I have so many signed books/have met a lot of my favourite authors. If you asked my friends they might tell you that I was cried at ‘The Wright Stuff’ because a man called in and said he is happy to pay his taxes to help other people, which probably tells you a lot about me.
Which of your role models would you most like to meet and why?
Baroness Hale of Richmond, a super inspiring trailblazer and a fellow Yorkshire lass
DRD Partnership works with Future First to provide young people from state schools and colleges with work experience opportunities and employer-based experiences.
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.
Role Models
Having grown up in the same place and attended the same school, alumni are immediately relatable to current students. This makes them ideal role models. Alumni can talk about their educational or career experiences and inspire current students to achieve their potential.
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.
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.
Supporting the Curriculum
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.
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.
Shawbrook Bank
Shawbrook and Future First work together to inspire and motivate young people in state schools and colleges all over the UK. From inviting students into their offices for informative and engaging Insight Days, to sharing personal stories from employees which students can relate to, mentoring, and more. The partnership also aims to widen the talent pool in the financial industry, and open up more opportunities for young people who previously hadn’t considered the pathway.
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.
Mentors
Alumni can act as mentors either online or in person, providing advice, support and guidance to students. Mentoring is tailored to the individual with specific goals in mind, offering students a purposeful new relationship to help overcome a range of challenges.
Volunteering
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.
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.
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).
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.
Mayor of London
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.
Future first is delighted to be working with The Waterloo Foundation to build alumni networks in schools across Powys, South Wales
Fundraisers
Alumni can support their old school or college by raising money or donating to specific causes. This could be books for the library, music equipment or to fund educational visits for current students.
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.
Work Placements
Work experience is an invaluable opportunity for students to gain an
insight into working life. Alumni can provide shadowing opportunities
and placements, helping students gain not online more awareness of work,
but also the skills they need to succeed when they get there.
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.
Where are you from, and where do you live now? What do you like about those places?
