Supporting our local communities

In our eyes, community is all about people and we will continue to do all that we can to support our local communities, especially during these unprecedented times and the cost of living crisis.

In 2018, E-ACT Nechells Academy opened its first community hub to support anyone in the local area facing hardship—whether they were one of the school families or not—by providing access to safe spaces, resources, and signposting to specialist agencies. Their incredible work led to the hub being shortlisted for the Community Engagement Initiative of the Year category at the Tes Schools’ Award 2022!

A local hub was created at E-ACT Blackley Academy’s nearby St Paul’s Church, with the aim of bringing organisations together under one roof to help local families with everything from housing and benefits to cooking, foodbanks and budgeting. The academy’s fantastic support for the local community gained national media coverage in The Times, BBC Radio 4 and the Manchester Evening News.

E-ACT Bourne End Academy is proud to offer a range of societies so that students can enrich their knowledge in extra-curricular activities, including an Equine Society.

E-ACT Badock’s Wood Academy partnered with Virunga Masif Community School in Uganda.

E-ACT Heartlands Academy received the School Games Silver Level Mark Award for 2021/22 – for the academy’s physical activity and sporting achievements

E-ACT Royton & Crompton Academy were awarded the Anti-Bullying Ambassador and Wellbeing badges from The Diana Award in June 2022.

Staff at E-ACT St Ursula’s Academy took part in fixing a local children’s play area after it was vandalised, and this work was featured on DIY SOS!

E-ACT Willenhall Academy has developed close links with the British Legion - they now have part of the school grounds for a veterans’ allotment, as well as bees that are just starting to produce honey that will be used in catering lessons.

E-ACT Ilminster Avenue Academy regularly raises money for a number of charities and this year helped organisations such as Young Minds (£121.50), Comic Relief (£146.62) and Children in Need (£165) to name just a few.

We’d like to thank our academy ambassadors for their continued support in helping our academies, pupils, parents and local communities thrive.

“I wanted to give back to my local community in South London. I grew up in West Norwood and wanted to contribute to a school that’s making great progress and doing amazing things for young people. Being a school ambassador at E-ACT City Heights Academy I’m able to contribute my expertise as a technologist and educational advisor. I get the opportunity to work alongside the school’s leadership team, parents, and other local stakeholders.

Within the last year I’ve supported the school through their Ofsted inspection, invited industry leaders to meet students and organised a project with the Dyson Foundation to help students understand the quality of air in their local area. This has improved the student’s awareness of professional networks available to them on their doorstep. Being a school ambassador has been a fantastic experience especially when the headteacher and leadership team values and utilises our skills to work alongside staff, young people and the local community.”

“The best thing about my role is being able to make a difference to people’s lives. Knowing my work has had an impact on shaping the future for our children is the best feeling in the world!”

“The best thing about being an ambassador is to be able to add value to the work of the staff and pupils, improving outcomes for all.”