A powerful moment at the inaugural Haberdashers’ Advantage Working Together event for Philanthropy.
At a meeting held in the Hall on 14 January a group of school leaders were offered the chance to create a fundamental shift in the ‘business as usual’ work of the Company’s grant-making.
The essential question posed was: how do we alter the balance of power in the Company, such that young people have a greater voice and more agency in its philanthropy?
This was the inaugural Haberdashers’ Advantage Working Together event for Philanthropy: Youth Voices, Creating Change.
It had two aims: firstly, to celebrate all that our school hubs achieve through their charitable activities, from fundraising to volunteering. Haberdashers’ Adams took to the floor to share their experience of philanthropy within their school community, and how their students engage with local, national and international charities to affect change.
Secondly, the school leaders present – all of whom have responsibility for the schools’ work with charities and/or student voice – were asked to consider that shift. What would it look like to give greater autonomy and decision-making power to the young people in our schools? If we put young people front and centre of our philanthropy, where could this take us?
Haberdasher schools are already heavily involved in the world of charities, from own clothes days and bake sales, to volunteering with local charities. It was exciting to share best practice on what could be achieved, and energising to see how this could be developed.
But with input from the team at Islington Giving, the school leaders also explored what next? They considered a new development in grass-roots philanthropy: Participatory Grant Making.
Participatory grant-making (PGM) is a practice that shifts decision-making power to communities. It helps ensure that funds address real needs, fosters equity and strengthens local capacity. It is a natural next step for the work of the Company’s Charities Committee.
Islington Giving generously shared their experience over the past ten years of embedding PGM in their practice. And Habs school staff explored how this could be used to create groups of young grant makers in schools, and embed philanthropy across the curriculum.
Matthew Skeate and Kim Cherrington delivered the workshop on the charitable programme at Haberdashers’ Adams.
Matthew said, ‘Thank you for arranging a really worthwhile event. We have come away with new insights and some tangible ideas to take forward the concept of PGM within the context of our school and local community. For me, the biggest takeaway was the idea that there are opportunities to embed philanthropy and grant making within the school curriculum and thus shape the culture of the school. It was great to have the opportunity to make links with like-minded teachers from other schools, as well as to meet Haberdashers with experience in this sector’.
There was a huge amount of energy and ambition in the room, centred around the idea that young people should be given greater agency in decision making, and that philanthropy develops key soft skills that are vital in the workplace.
Thanks to Freya and Sarah from Islington Giving for their expertise, and to all the staff who gave their time to join us for the day. We look forward to seeing the fruits of the discussions as we strengthen the next generation of change-makers, and bring about a step change in the power dynamic of the Company.
