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Habs Aspire connects sixth form students with a me

Habs Aspire connects sixth form students with a mentor from a profession or sector they are interested in, for 1:1 online mentoring across their two years of sixth form.

The programme:
- Equips sixth form students to make informed decisions about their future pathway whilst understanding that this path may change
- Improves their communication skills and resilience
- Makes connections across the Haberdashers community

As part of the matching process, mentors and mentees are also asked about their hobbies and interests. This can help build rapport early in the mentoring relationship, adding some fun alongside serious discussions about the mentees future.

And sometimes, our mentors and mentees connect over the simplest things that we all share in common...

@manutd

READ MORE: https://ow.ly/QiaS50XZzQf

For more than 700 years, the Haberdashers’ Company

For more than 700 years, the Haberdashers’ Company has endured as a symbol of craftsmanship, education, philanthropy and charity, an embodiment of the idea that success gains its true meaning when it serves others.

To "serve" is in our motto for a reason, look no further than the grants, bursaries, scholarships, mentoring, fundraising and other excellent initiatives that support our guiding principles of serving with generosity, educating without discrimination, and investing in our biggest asset – our young people.

Each and every one of our 17 Haberdasher schools work tirelessly to support their students through formal education. But how can we support the communities in which those schools are embedded, to create longer lasting change and social cohesion?

It's a question that Alex Craig, member of the Livery, asked himself recently as he shares his experience of volunteering with one of our charity partners, Home-Start Southwark.

"There are so many opportunities to get involved and my hope is that my journey below will inspire and motivate other Haberdashers to take that leap." - Alex Craig

READ MORE: https://ow.ly/VThW50Y1Nxy

6 years ago today... our current Prime Warden, Car

6 years ago today... our current Prime Warden, Caroline Davis, visited Haberdashers' Borough Academy during it's building site phase!

Today, Habs Borough Academy is a flourishing and dynamic secondary school in the centre of London. We are so proud that they are part of our family of 17 Haberdasher schools around the UK!

The Haberdashers' Company has spent the last few y

The Haberdashers' Company has spent the last few years listening carefully to our charity partners. On charity visits and in conversations with charity leaders, we have proactively and intentionally set out to better understand the challenges facing them.

Running a charity has never been easy, but recent years have presented what some describe as a ‘perfect storm’. The Covid-19 pandemic, cost-of-living crisis, rising inflation, reduced funding, and increased community needs mean charities are shifting from one crisis to the next.

The leaders of our charity partners have been sharing these challenges with us, from their own contexts and experience.

And this posed the challenge to us: How could we fund charity partners – above the usual grant-making process – in such a way that would help make them more resilient to the external context?

In response the Charities Committee agreed to pilot a Resilience Fund in 2024-2025. The fund was small, but it was mighty in terms of meeting the needs of charities, to help ensure sustainability, growth and succession. The Resilience Fund is now an established and exceptional part of the Company’s grant-making – fund that are easy to apply for and yet instrumental in securing the future of our charity partners.

Earlier this month Sixth Form students from across

Earlier this month Sixth Form students from across six of our secondary schools (Haberdashers' Abraham Darby, Haberdashers' Adams, Haberdashers' Hatcham College, Haberdashers' Borough Academy, Haberdashers' Crayford Academy and Haberdashers' Knights Academy) gathered at the Hall to take part in the Livery Academy Awards Heats—an exciting annual evening designed to showcase innovation, teamwork and entrepreneurial talent. Each team was challenged to pitch a fully formed business idea with the aim of securing a place at the prestigious Livery Academy Awards Grand Final at Mansion House in January, where they will represent the Haberdashers’ Company against other Livery schools in this Dragon's Den style competition.

The Livery Academy Awards is a well-established programme designed to strengthen links between City Livery Companies and state schools by developing business and enterprise skills among sixth form students.

This year’s brief was to ‘create a product or business which will encourage individual aspiration and boost job or career opportunities for the school leaver’.

Students were tasked with developing a business or product capable of attracting up to £2 million of investment. Their idea needed to offer a clear benefit to a community, use technology creatively, and demonstrate genuine commercial potential. Each team assigned roles to research, develop and plan their product or service, producing financial projections, growth plans and a clear explanation of the technology involved. A panel of judges assessed not only the originality of the idea, but also the quality of the presentation, the robustness of the business plan, and how convincingly the team handled questions.

To support them in preparing industry-standard pitches, teams received mentoring from professional Haberdasher members working in finance, marketing, advertising and the creative sectors.

It was a very tough call for the judges, but the final winners announced were Haberdashers' Crayford Academy!

We wish the team every success as they prepare to compete against students from other Livery schools at this landmark event in the City calendar.

On 20 November, Haberdashers’ Hall came alive with

On 20 November, Haberdashers’ Hall came alive with colour, creativity, and collaboration as students from across the Haberdashers family of schools gathered for the Haberdashers Character: Art Day.

This event is part of the wider Haberdashers’ Character programme, designed to nurture confidence, broaden horizons, consider learning beyond the classroom and develop essential life skills in every pupil. The Art Day exemplified this vision by offering opportunities for self-expression, collaboration, and skill-building. Students not only created art but also engaged with professionals from the art world, gaining insights into creative careers and the role of art in shaping society.

Students enjoyed talks and immersive workshops, given by Haberdasher artists. Students then participated in a Career in Art Q&A, featuring company members, scholars, and alumni who had forged successful paths in the arts. This discussion provided practical advice and personal stories, helping students envision their own futures in creative industries.

All in all a wonderful day celebrating Haberdasher creativity!

At Haberdashers’ @abrahamdarby, staff community is

At Haberdashers’ @abrahamdarby, staff community is at the heart of school life. This month, we were reminded once again of the profound impact our colleagues have on the lives of our students—and the importance of supporting them when they need us most.

Recently, the Company was contacted regarding support for a long-serving teacher, Tom, who has been part of the Abraham Darby team since 2009. Tom was born with a significant hearing impairment, having lost around 70% of his hearing at birth. Despite this challenge, he has built an exceptional career in music education, inspiring countless young people through his teaching, leadership, and dedication to the school’s musical life.

The Haberdashers' Foundation is a charity and grant making fund which supports our schools and their pupils, often meeting the needs of young people on free school meals, offering enrichment or cultural capital opportunities. The financial support that we are able to offer our schools in this way are a fundamental part of the Haberdashers' Advantage - the value and benefit felt by all connected to Habs.

The Company was delighted to be able to support Tom and Haberdasher's Abraham Darby though this fund.

"I am extremely grateful for the most generous award towards the cost of my much-needed new hearing aids. These new aids will help me massively continue to teach music at this school as the new models will improve my ability to assist the amazing young people whom I work with.” - Tom

Gifts from past Haberdashers including William Adams, Robert Aske and William Jones – as well as Thomas Arno – continue to enable significant impact for our schools.

A gift left to the Haberdashers' Foundation in your Will could do something similar. For more information about leaving a gift in your Will please contact our Director for Charities: Susan@haberdashers.co.uk

@hadsixthform

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