Portsmouth NEU, Steve Sinnott Foundation and The Traveller Movement

Portsmouth Branch of NEU (National Education Union) held it’s AGM on Friday April 25th. Around the AGM several organisations and speakers were invited to take part.

The Traveller Movement, in collaboration with The Steve Sinnott Foundation, were invited to screen the film Never Going to Beat You (NGTBY) as part of the 2025 AGM of Portsmouth NEU. On Thursday evening the film was shown at the Southsea Cinema and Arts Centre.


The film was introduced by Jude Tisdall representing the Traveller Movement. Jude is also an ambassador for the Steve Sinnott Foundation. The film was shown to an invited audience of NEU members including teachers and educators. NGTBY is a film about domestic abuse, based on true stories of 18 Romany, Gypsy and Irish Traveller women. It is powerful and hard-hitting film, commissioned with the purpose of raising awareness. It is a masterful portrayal of how domestic abuse can destroy lives and effect families and community. The film is part of the Traveller Movement Education Programme and can be used to raise awareness among service providers and professionals or, as a discussion opener with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, or indeed any community where such topics are seen as taboo. Domestic abuse and violence is of course not limited to any one community or any one sector of the population. This is a problem that cuts across all sections of society; it is not age related, class, culture of gender related. The showing was followed by a discussion.


For full details of all trainings available please visit www.travellermovement.org.uk



Among the invited speakers at the AGM on Friday evening, April 25th were Ann Beatty CEO of the Steve Sinnott Foundation and Shamella Dhana Chair of Trustees and Founder member of Portsmouth City of Sanctuary.


Portsmouth City of Sanctuary


PCoS is grassroots, award winning, humanitarian charity, primarily assisting Portsmouth’s migrant community with direct action. The PCoS volunteer team aims to compassionately uphold the dignity and independence of all individuals it supports, regardless of status, and strives to do so with respect and welcoming warmth for everyone.


Shamella spoke about the organisations work in helping local asylum seekers, refugees and migrants, sharing some of the enormous range of projects which include a Refugee Hub, Action Asylum, Welcome Box arrivals, Welcome Wheels. There is a female only space HAVEN which has a programme of activities and support to those who have suffered gender violence. And much, much more. Shamella is an inspirational speaker, passionate and knowledgeable.


For further information of the work of PCoS please go to www.portsmouth.cityofsanctuary.org



The Steve Sinnott Foundation


The Steve Sinnott Foundation is a small charity with an enormous reach. Their mission is to change lives through education by creating a worldwide community of educators and learners. striving for universal access to quality education and ongoing improvement of teaching and learning.


Ann Beatty, CEO of the charity spoke of some of the current projects supporting this vision to accessible education are


  • Positive Periods: a project which started out in one country and has now been rolled through to The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Uganda, Malawi, Senegal, Nepal, Haiti and Cuba. On reaching puberty girls can miss out on up to a quarter of school time by not having the materials to manage their periods
  • Running workshops on gender-based violence. Creating safe spaces to talk, explore and understand.
  • Mother Tongue Literacy Classes


Ann thanked the NEU Portsmouth for their continued support and spoke about Steve’s ambitions and dreams in relation to education for all. She also noted that the work of the Traveller Movement and Portsmouth City of Sanctuary had similar and overlapping purpose and hopes in relation to cultivating an awareness and creating change around gender-based violence in all its forms.


For further information please visit www.stevesinnottfoundation.org.uk


If you are in Southsea do pop in and meet Aysegul and Hannah, they host loads of community events and they made our evening a great success. www.southseacinema.co.uk



Ann Beatty • April 28, 2025

UNESCO ASPnet UK schools on the theme of peace was presented to Pope Leo XIV at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris

By Ann Beatty • September 25, 2026
A moment to be proud of and a reminder of why young people’s voices matter. Today, artwork created by students from UNESCO ASPnet UK schools on the theme of peace was presented to Pope Leo XIV at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, alongside artwork from young people in other countries. What an amazing opportunity for our students to have their creativity, ideas and hopes represented on an international stage. For me, this is what UNESCO ASPnet is about: creating opportunities for young people to connect across cultures, express themselves creatively, learn from one another and imagine a better future together. The power of young people’s creativity: their voices being part of an international conversation about education, peace, culture and our shared future. UNESCO’s programme for Pope Leo XIV’s visit specifically focused on education, artistic creation, AI, information integrity and peace. The work was part of a mural that brings together 80 original creations marking UNESCO’s 80th anniversary, produced as part of the "International Youth for Peace" competition organized by France TV and UNESCO.

Change Starts with a Will: Leave a Legacy That Helps Transform Education

September 7, 2026
Most of us want to leave the world a little better than we found it. Whether that's through the people we love, the values we pass on, or the causes we care about, we all hope our legacy will make a difference. One of the simplest ways to do that is by writing a will. This autumn, we are proud to be taking part in the Change Starts with a Will campaign, allowing our supporters to write or update their will free of charge through our trusted partner, Octopus Legacy. Why writing a will matters Writing a will isn't just about deciding who inherits your possessions. It's about making sure your wishes are respected and providing peace of mind for the people you care about. Having a will means you can: Protect the people you love. Make important decisions about your estate. Reduce uncertainty for your family. Leave a lasting gift to a cause that reflects your values. Many people put off writing a will, believing it's something to think about later in life. In reality, it's one of the most important documents you'll ever create. A legacy that supports education Steve Sinnott dedicated his life to championing education as a fundamental human right. His belief was simple but powerful: every child deserves the opportunity to learn, and every teacher deserves the support they need to inspire future generations. Today, we continue that mission by working with partners across the world to improve access to quality education, strengthen teaching and support communities where education can change lives. When you choose to leave a gift in your will to The Steve Sinnott Foundation, you're helping ensure that this work can continue for years to come. After taking care of family and friends, even a small gift could help provide learning opportunities, strengthen education systems and create brighter futures for generations to come. A gift that lasts beyond a lifetime Legacy gifts play an important role in helping charities plan for the future. Your support could help us continue investing in sustainable education projects, supporting teachers and ensuring more children have access to the education they deserve. It's a powerful way to ensure your values live on long into the future. Write your will for free As part of our Autumn 2026 campaign, we're offering supporters the opportunity to write or update their will free of charge through Octopus Legacy. There is no obligation to leave a gift to The Steve Sinnott Foundation, but we hope you'll consider remembering us after you've taken care of those closest to you. Together, we can continue Steve Sinnott's vision of a world where education changes lives. Find out more If you've been thinking about writing your will, there's never been a better time. Our free will service is available until 31 October 2026 , making it easy to protect the people you love while considering the lasting impact your legacy could have on education worldwide.  https://octopuslegacy.com/online-will?channel=partner Change starts with a will. And together, we can help create a future where education is accessible to everyone.

What happens when creativity, young people, education and community come together?

By Ann Beatty • August 25, 2026
Seeds of Hope are everywhere! “I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I arrived at Stage at the Lake…” But it was special to meet all of the Calderdale team in person, who had brought this four-day event together so successfully. Sometimes an event stays with you long after the final performance has finished. My visit to Stage at the Lake at the beautiful Shibden Hall in Calderdale was one of those occasions. As UNESCO ASPnet UK Coordinator, I was delighted to be invited as a guest, but what I experienced was much more than simply attending an event. Here, in the grounds of a house steeped in history, the past, present and future seemed to meet. The English Chamber Orchestra filled the setting with music, Northern Ballet brought movement and storytelling to life, and throughout there was a wonderful sense of creativity, community and possibility. And then there were the parklets; a unique gardening festival at Shibden Park celebrating community, creativity and the power of nature to bring people together. At its heart was a specially commissioned trail of ten micro show gardens, designed and built by community groups from across Calderdale. It was wonderful to see spaces where ideas, conversations and creativity were flourishing and connecting through Seeds of Hope. I cannot wait to see them transported to their ‘forever homes’. Standing there, I found myself thinking about what we mean when we talk about education, culture and hope.