Working Together – Winning Together
Amanda Martin, president of the National Education Union, 2020.
The work of the Steve Sinnott Foundation began in 2009 to build upon
the legacy left behind following Steve’s death in 2008. Now, after 10
years’ experience working in partnership with teachers and educators
worldwide, the Foundation has secured its reputation in its own right.
SSF projects are offering life changing experiences for many people
across the world.
I am so proud of my association with the Foundation and of the fact
that I worked with it from its very early days. When I first met Steve
I was a young teacher. His calm, unifying and strong educational
values really resonated with me. He encouraged and welcomed
ideas and advocated trade unionism alongside the absolute need for
social justice and fairness. However, it wasn’t until I spoke at Steve’s
memorial service that I realised the true impact he had regarding
education and solidarity not just in the UK but across the world.
In its quest to continue work imbued with Steve’s values, the
Foundation has at its heart the ethos of enabling and partnership. It
ensures that while initial support is provided, those involved in the
various projects are not dependent upon the Foundation. The aim
for each project is that it can expand and thrive; that learning and
successes can be shared. Every project involves working together
to develop trust and ownership so that the they are not only fit for
purpose but are sustainable, locally owned, managed and valued.
The Foundation’s key vision is working towards the achievement
of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4). It believes that quality
education is the key to achieving all seventeen of the Sustainable
Development Goals. The Foundation’s commitment to gender
equality is something I believe it should be proud of as it sits at the
forefront of all its thinking. The vision that started with Steve has
definitely been built upon and expanded by the Foundation. The work
of SSF has impacted positively on so many lives.
The Positive Periods Project has captured the true power of
collaboration between trade unions and the Foundation. To date
it has enabled girls in The Gambia to be given the opportunity to
change their lives through being able to attend school every school
day throughout the month.
Teachers in The Gambia have shared their learning with Sierra
Leonean teachers and they in turn are sharing learning and training
with colleagues in Uganda and Malawi; educators in Cuba and Haiti
are also involved in sharing this learning. This has not only meant the
completion of one successful project but has, in fitting with Steve’s
philosophy, inspired, encouraged and empowered those involved to
share their success - showing the real meaning of partnership and
working together.
Despite some setbacks the Learning Resource Centres in Haiti and
Nepal have put education at the centre of these communities and
proven that education can make a difference.
All of these projects show the importance of education globally and
the link with international solidarity that the Foundation continues to
achieve.
As I complete my presidential year, I am reminded of the words of
encouragement Steve was always willing to give and I know that
through their work the Foundation continues to inspire that can-do
attitude. Sadly, due to Covid19 there is no National Education Union
(NEU) Annual Conference this year which is a shame because in
writing my own speech I looked at the speech Steve gave when he
was the National Union of Teachers (NUT) President. Words of unity,
passion and solidarity resonated throughout and that’s what would
have resonated in my words too.
“Working together, winning together” is certainly a motto I live by,
because together we can achieve so much more. Whether that be
highlighting and striving to defeat inequality and hardship or actively
involving others in projects that can make a difference and make the
world a fair and equitable place.
Steve was taken too early from those he loved but through its ethos,
aims and hard work the Foundation has ensured that one man’s
solidarity and love has touched, enhanced and improved so many
more lives than he might have ever imagined.
From Engage issue 20.
AMANDA MARTIN • October 6, 2021
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!
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
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.
