First trip to West Africa since Covid lockdowns

Dear friends and supporters,


I am just about to head back to the UK from a trip to West Africa visiting some of our current projects in The Gambia and Sierra Leone. This is our first visit since before Covid and I am delighted to share with you all that the projects are progressing well. 


I am in a reflective mood thinking about all the educators and students I met, and the stories they shared with me. I’m also thinking about my friends and family who are preparing for the festive season in the U.K. Despite extreme challenges; cost of living increases, climate change and inequality, our colleagues are passionately committed to providing access to quality education for all children. 


Despite the traffic jams, the dust as we are nearing Hammatan, and the football focus, we shared some laughter and joy. I had an incredible trip, and I would like to feedback to you the difference your support is making. 


Here are just a few highlights:


The Learning resource centre in The Gambia is providing a vital space for teacher training and for educators to carry out research.



I was honoured to meet with 40 SSF young ambassadors in Banjul and Basse who are campaigning for the right to education for all children everywhere, as well as improved conditions for their teachers. 



We looked at our Change makers Speak Out Challenge - The School I want to Learn In together and the students came up with some inspiring ideas for the future of education. 


Sign up here to get involved in our Change makers Speak Out Challenge: 


Change makers Speak Out Challenge


We visited an SEN school in Banjul and the teachers there touched my heart at their incredible passion and love for the students in their care. 



Inspiring stories


I was nspired by a young woman who shared her story with me. She was married at 15, has a baby daughter and due to violence from her husband she ran away. She is 17 now and living with her aunt and she is attending school every day. She is hopeful for the future for her and her daughter. How incredible is that story and the support you have given to enable us to host training on gender based violence is absolutely having an impact on people lives.


In Sierra Leone, my colleague Isata has just had a baby boy Mohammed, and it was a joy to spend time with them both. 


The learning resource centre in Makeni is really coming together, and Isata now has 1 staff member, and 5 volunteers, who are making great progress.



Positive Periods programme


Meeting teachers and students who benefitted from the Positive Periods and Gender Based Violence training, and hearing their testimonies, assured me that our work is having a huge impact on people’s daily lives. 



I was honoured to meet some of the SSF young ambassadors who told me how the Positive Periods program has not only impacted their own personal lives, but the lives of girls in their wider community as well. 


The Foundation works in a way that fosters trust with our partners, builds ownership and sustainable practice on the ground. We listen and we care about the future and I am proud to say our method is working. 



Support our work


However, the list of requests for replication of the work is long and we cannot expand our work without more support. 


If you could find it in your heart to support some of our projects directly by purchasing one of our eco-friendly charity gifts this December, it would make a big difference to so many people. We have gifts priced to suit all pockets, take a look here: https://www.stevesinnottfoundation.org.uk/gifts/


Or you might want to support us to foster a sustainable future for education by making a monthly donation from as little as £5 to any amount you can afford. Click here for a form.


Finally, a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart to you all, for supporting access to education for all. 


Ann





This page presents country specific information including national reports, country commitments, data, and examples of good practices submitted by partners - Sierra Leone


This page presents country specific information including national reports, country commitments, data, and examples of good practices submitted by partners - The Gambia

Steve Sinnott • December 7, 2022

Headlines: Inspiration, humour and advice for school leaders - Competition 2025

By Ann Beatty • August 15, 2025
Mike Fleetham of Thinking Classroom has written a book " Headlines: Inspiration, humour and advice for school leaders ". A collection of original ideas, advice from professionals, quotes, and tips to support and inspire all leaders. Perfect for new and established leaders working in education, especially headteachers. "Being a headteacher is like looking both ways before you cross the road, and then getting hit by an aeroplane." To Enter the Competition To win a copy of Headlines please share your inspiring education or life lesson in no more than 600 words. The winning article will also be published in our next edition of Engage. Send your words of inspiration to admin@stevesinnottfoundation.org.uk 📅 Deadline: 5th September 2025⁠ Stuck on Ideas? Here are some questions and prompts to get you started! What’s the one lesson school didn’t teach you, but life did? Think of a moment that changed your path, what happened? What piece of advice has helped you grow the most? When did a challenge turn into an opportunity for you? What story from your life would inspire someone on the other side of the world? What’s the life lesson that unlocked your next chapter? ⁠ Your words could uplift, empower and be seen by many. Let your story inspire the world! 🌍💡⁠ Good luck and we cant wait to read all the entries!

UNESCO ASPnet Schools Coventry

By Ann Beatty • July 8, 2025
This week our CEO Ann and Jude (SSF Ambassador) visited schools in Coventry and heard about the wonderful work that students are doing to foster peace and community connection, as part of Coventry Arts Week. We visited Lyng Hall school in the morning and met with Ms Hagan and four of the schools UNESCO ASPnet ambassadors. They told us all about their recent project. The students took their art and poetry to the 80th Anniversary symposium in Ypres and Dunkirk. They shared with us some of the poetry they had written together with the students on the field trip and some of their own poems too. They also shared their future plans for working with their local primary school on peace and community. We also had the privilege of joining Ms Hagans class where they were looking at Caliban’s tale. Here is one of the students work

A Get Moving Fundraiser - Ann's 60 Miles Walk

By Ann Beatty • June 30, 2025
For my birthday this year I had the honour to walk 60 miles (yes it was a big 0 birthday) over 3 days to support the essential work of the Steve Sinnott Foundation of which I am CEO. Education in its many forms is essential for all of us to thrive and make the most of life's opportunities. The Foundation works to ensure that as many children and adults as possible across the globe can access the human right of education. The plan was to walk with friends and supporters who I hoped would keep me smiling along the way and it felt like a good way to make use of the Foundation’s “Get Moving” campaign. Here's how my Get Moving Fundraiser went on the first day. The 13th June I started my walk in London by walking from Barnet to west Hampstead and visiting my sister at her shop at Tree of Life where I got served a nice iced coffee to keep me going.