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The Leathersellers’ Foundation
Leathersellers’ Review 2024–2025
Early Years Education Grants Programme 2024–2026
Education
Natalia Rymaszewska Head of Grants
Leathersellers’ Federation of Schools Our close relationship with all the schools of the Federation continues to thrive, with involvement from across the Company and Foundation. Members and nominated representatives from the community are involved at each level of governance, and regular events hosted at Leathersellers’ Hall provide added value. This year’s Personal Giving Appeal offered exceptional support by raising substantial funds focused on ‘Literacy and Life Chances’. Recognising the continued value of unrestricted giving we increased our annual support through this mechanism to £100,000, distributed across primary, secondary, and Sixth Form. The Scholarships Programme – having now completed its third year – has shown transformative results for students at risk of disengagement. Reflection and evaluation to consider whether to extend the programme was undertaken by the schools, showcasing the difference made to young lives as shown in the feature in this Review . With tutoring, extra- curriculars and mentoring, students in Year 8 and Year 9 have made remarkable progress and we look forward to seeing what another four years of the programme will bring. Other supported projects range from a school readiness programme to special recognition awards for school leavers, underpinned by the universal breakfast club provision. Colfe’s School Colfe’s continues to thrive with pupil numbers reaching over 1,300 in September 2024. Excellent progress is being made by their alumni and development team in building the school’s endowment and scholarship fund, which is currently valued at over £2.7m with legacy pledges of a further £2.3m and regular donations of £120,000 a month. Colfe’s investment into their alumni and development team to encourage this giving has paid dividends, with the scholarship programme now secured in perpetuity. This year, 11 Foundation-funded scholars accessed Sixth Form at Colfe’s, with academic, extra-curricular and network support opportunities available. Leathersellers’ members remain deeply engaged as Governors and through events like the annual Colfe’s Sermon, cricket match, and Court Visitation. Continuing development: Impact and Evaluation Framework We’re making better-informed funding decisions because of improved reporting and evaluation. This approach is already shaping new programmes, like Early Years, by setting clear objectives from the start.
As highlighted in this year’s Review , the programme’s first year of projects were successfully delivered over 2024–2025 by five charity partners providing practical, well-being, and developmental support to under-fives, their families and early years practitioners. Holding two roundtable events in Lewisham enabled us to help partners to connect, share knowledge, and collaborate—leading to tangible benefits such as free book distribution, shared spaces, and cross- referrals. Our partnership with Merchant Taylors’ Foundation has remained strong at both staff and Livery levels, keeping momentum high. As the programme enters its second year, discussions are underway about the potential to extend collaboration beyond this initial pilot.
Centred on our long-standing commitment to improving social mobility, this year marked both consolidation and expansion across key strategic areas. With additional funding from partners supporting giving in Early Years and Student Grants, alongside our core Foundation budget, total education giving exceeded £1m.
Since the 17th century, when we awarded our first student grant and became trustees of Colfe’s School, we have continued a legacy of fostering opportunity.
Leathersellers’ Federation of Schools 30%
Education Main Grants 12%
Education partners (universities) 6%
Undergraduate Scholarships (Student Grants) 24%
Colfe’s Sixth Form Scholarships 17%
Split of educational giving 2024–2025 Total £1,100,130
Early Years Grants Programme (with Merchant Taylors’ Foundation) 11%
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