By Ailish Langan, 2024
Education and skills
About this theme
This theme covers all aspects of learning and training at all levels, including early years, schools, universities, adult education, apprenticeships and professional development. It is one of the eight universal themes which form our grantmaking framework and allow us to address every aspect of society. Fellows’ stories
Nina Smith (CF 2023) welcomed changes to Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026, which now explicitly includes suicide risk in the statutory safeguarding guidance for schools and colleges in England.
By Nina Smith, 2026
We spoke to Natasha Cox about how her Churchill Fellowship helped shape the next stage of Actively SeeK.I.N.G, the CIC she founded to support Black boys through creative arts. Drawing on learning from schools in the USA, Ghana, and the Caribbean, Natasha has launched the House of K.I.N.G.s Saturday School. She reflects on how the Fellowship deepened her work, opened new doors, and helped turn her research into practical support for young people in East London.
By Natasha Cox, 2026
Neil McIntyre (CF 2014) has shared and presented his Churchill Fellowship research widely.
By Neil McIntyre, 2026
Beverley Samways (CF 2023) has recently published a book: Unspoken Stories: Learning to Listen to People with Intellectual Disabilities who are Non-Speaking
By Beverley Samways, 2026
Dr Helen Ross (CF 2025) contributed an essay to the latest edition of NeuroConverse, reflecting on international learning from her Churchill Fellowship.
By Helen Ross, 2026
Nina Smith (CF 2023) co-authored the paper Girls, self-harm and suicide prevention in schools, exploring the lived experiences of adolescent girls with complex mental health needs.
By Nina Smith, 2026
Nicola Hall (CF 2025) returned to Adelaide as a guest of the Government of South Australia to speak at its Student Pathways and Careers Conference.
By Nicola Hall, 2026
We spoke to Ali Zafar about how his Fellowship is shaping new approaches to financial education in the UK. After already founding LifeSmart, Ali used his Fellowship to explore why financial literacy remains low, learning from systems in Singapore, Vietnam, and Bali. His research has led to a new framework for understanding how financial capability develops, and has already informed updates to his work and contributions to UK policy discussions. Ali is now finalising his report and developing resources to share his findings across government, charities, and the private sector.
By Ali Zafar, 2026
Alan Hydes (CF 1971) took part in a panel discussion at Loughborough University London marking the 55th anniversary of “Ping Pong Diplomacy”.
By Alan Hydes, 2026