The Educational Wealth Fund (EWF) is a registered charity in England and Wales. The EWF is building a permanent endowment fund to provide grants to non-selective comprehensive schools in the United Kingdom.Charity Commission. The Educational Wealth Fund, registered charity no. 1192427. Retrieved 20 November 2020
Overview The EWF seeks to fund capital projects which provide schoolchildren, and their communities with a sense of awe, inspiration and wonder. It has five priority themes:
Creative Arts Sustainability Local Culture Peace Mental Health
One of the stated aims of the EWF is to enhance the position of education within national culture, citing calls by UNESCO and the OECD on the vital need to improve globally the image and status of the teaching profession.Tang, Q et al, UNESCO, Education 2030, Incheon Declaration and Framework for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 4, 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2020OECD (2014), A Teachers’ Guide to TALIS 2013: Teaching and Learning International Survey, TALIS, OECD Publishing. Retrieved 17 August 2020 The EWF notes that the highest performing education systems around the world are also supported by a national culture which prizes education and holds the teaching profession in high regard.Report on Research into Maths and Science Teaching in the Shanghai Region, National College for School Leadership (2013). Retrieved 17 August 2017 To this end, the EWF seeks to raise the profile of education by funding projects which will create positive and inspiring stories about learning and teaching, such as; life-size dinosaur skeletons, wonderous libraries, art galleries, full-scale kitchen gardens, planetariums, world-class sculpture, landscaped gardens, music centres, and events involving renowned artists.“Our Vision”. The Educational Wealth Fund. Retrieved 13 October 2020
History The charity was founded in 2020 by British science teacher Jason West FRSA. Since publication of its vision the EWF has attracted wide support from economists, academics, authors, artists, TV and cultural personalities, including two former Presidents of the Royal Society.“Patrons and Supporters”. “The Educational Wealth Fund. Retrieved 13 October 2020 Jason cites that he was inspired by Carl Sagan's 1994 Pale Blue Dot speech given at Cornell University which questioned the futility of conflict, and humanities vision for its place on Earth.
Notable patrons PatronNotable forProfessor Jim Al-Khalili FRS OBETheoretical physicist and TV PresenterBeanie BhebhePercussionist for RudimentalSir Ranulph Fiennes OBEExplorerProfessor Ian GoldinDirector of the Oxford Martin Programme on Technological and Economic Change. Former Vice-President of the World BankPeter Horrocks CBEChair of SEMLEP and former director of the BBC World ServiceProfessor Saiful Islam FRSCChemist and Royal Institution Christmas LecturerIan KellyActor and Historical BiographerDame Ann Limb CBE, DL, FRSAChair of the Scout AssociationSir Paul Nurse FRSNobel Laureate, former president of the Royal Society, CEO Crick Institute.Chris Packham CBENaturalist, TV presenter and authorProfessor Martyn PercyDean of Christ Church, Oxford UniversitySarah PinboroughNovelistLord Martin Rees OM, FRS, FRASAstronomer Royal and former President of the Royal SocietyJacqueline de Rojas CBEPresident of techUK and Chair of the Board of Digital Leaders. Non-Executive Director on the boards of Rightmove, Costain Group and FDM.Professor Andrea SellaScience communicatorNicki ShieldsPresenter Formula-ESir Tim Smit KBEFounder of the Eden ProjectIain Standen FRSAChief Executive of Bletchley ParkKT TunstallSinger and SongwriterJohn Wallace CBE Former principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Administration The EWFs founder, Jason West, was appointed by the board of trustees to become its first Chief Executive in July 2020. The Board of Trustees include: Sir Peter Birkett (Chair from 2020), Junita Fernandez, Lucian J Hudson, Zoe Raven, Andrew Harris, Victoria Mayes, Richard Bywater, Robert Gifford, Stuart Young and Chris Bridgman MBE. Youth Advisors include Amy and Ella Meek founders of Kids Against Plastic.
References
External links Official website