Nina Smith (2023) spoke at Westminster Insight’s Delivering RSHE in Schools conference, sharing learning on supporting staff to deliver relationships, sex and health education.
By Nina Smith, 2026
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
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
After her Fellowship exploring trauma, attachment, and ACEs, Jane Pepa reflects on what it takes to move from trauma-informed training to real system change. Through her work with the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership, she has supported over 12,000 public service staff, from education to policing, to better understand and respond to trauma. Now working to embed trauma-responsive approaches across systems in Merseyside, she shares how this learning is being applied in practice through collaboration and ongoing support.
By Jane Pepa, 2026
By Adelaide O'Mahony, 2025
By Isabella Matthews, 2024
Katy Dorman (CF 2025) spoke at the Apprenticeships & Training Conference 2026, contributing to a panel on collaboration and partnership in local skills systems.
By Katy Dorman, 2026
Nina Smith (CF 2023) took part in the Edge Ahead podcast with Three Dad’s Walking to discuss suicide prevention to mark Helplines Awareness Day.
By Nina Smith, 2026
Paul Ricci (CF 2024) spoke at a recent session of London’s Children & Young People Mental Health Community of Practice, organised by the London Association of Directors of Public Health.
By Paul Ricci, 2026
During her Churchill Fellowship in Ghana, Dr Chiedza Ikpeh explored how teacher wellbeing grows through community, adaptability, and shared responsibility. Speaking with teachers, she how collective approaches help educators thrive, even in challenging conditions. Witnessing this resilience reshaped how she understands teaching and what allows careers to be sustained over time, and Chiedza is now bringing this learning into her research and development work with teachers across the UK.
By Chiedza Ikpeh, 2026
Alex Donnelly CF 2012 is standing for election as a Conservative councillor in Camden, London and was interviewed by the Camden New Journal.
By Alex Donnelly, 2026