Over £250,000 is donated and awarded annually to projects and individuals through the Stationers’ Foundation’s ‘Staircase of Opportunity’.
At the event, current and prior beneficiaries will share their experiences and how best to get involved.
Student Nyla Maaruf received a major award for higher education in 2019 and commented: “Receiving the major award gave me the opportunity to finish what I started but also to finish it well, which opened the doors to all the opportunities I have received since.”
Another recipient of the award in 2018, Kate Marriott, said: “Receiving the award has utterly changed my life.”
The Foundation is a charity that provides financial and practical support for young people through their school, college, and university careers, in particular those seeking to enter and advance in the content and communications industries.
The Foundation said this broad remit ensures its impact varies from improving literacy levels at primary age to supporting young adults to gain the technical and professional skills that lead to employment in the sectors in which The Stationers’ Company has played a central role over the centuries, such as printing, publishing, design and graphics, data science, and archive management.
Each ‘tread’ of the ‘Staircase of Opportunity’ supports a different group of individuals, the Foundation said.
Projects include funding two Saturday schools for primary level pupils, and a media centre at the Stationers’ Crown Woods Academy, both in London; sponsorship of the nationwide Shine School Media Awards; and providing mentoring and financial assistance across a range of apprenticeships, academic scholarships, and postgraduate bursaries.
Gerard Heanue, chair of The Stationers’ Foundation, said: “The Stationers’ Company’s involvement in training and education began over 600 years ago, supporting the development of apprenticeships in our industries.
“Today, the support the Foundation provides could be for education, training or welfare and is vital for making opportunities in our industries possible for those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to access them.
“We’re looking forward to celebrating the success of our beneficiaries and their superb work, as well as saying thank you to our partners, donors, and supporters.
“Charitable work has long been part of the City of London livery companies’ work. In today’s challenging economic environment there is a continuous and growing need for the support we provide to young people. The Stationers are proud to continue this important tradition.”
