Future First

The ‘old school tie’ network has long been used by those educated in fee-paying schools to improve the educational and work opportunities available to them and their families.  The Trust has for a number of years been interested in the idea of extending these networks to non-privileged young people so that they too have access to a number of advisors and contacts to help negotiate today’s complex education and labour markets.

With this in mind, the Sutton Trust became involved in the work of Future First – a social enterprise founded in 2008 to build networks of former students to advise and inform state school students about future career and education opportunities.  Future First started by working with William Ellis School, an all-boys inner-city London comprehensive with over 20 percent of students eligible for free school meals, and has successfully built an alumni network of former students to provide students in years 10 to 13 with a series of events to motivate, inspire and guide their future choices. 

The scheme has recently been award £250,000 from the Cabinet Office and a part-matching grant from ZING, to fund free piloting of a new Future First service in 500 schools across England.  The service will support schools in collecting data from young people before they leave, on an opt-in basis.  The schools will then keep former students updated on developments at the schools through text, email and Facebook. Each school will develop a network that provides role models to inform and mentor current students, to develop networks that provide access to work experience opportunities and open up fundraising opportunities for schools to engage their alumni as donors.

For more information visit www.futurefirst.org.uk