The Mohn Westlake Foundation is proud to support the National Saturday Club with a three-year core grant to help more young people access high-quality, free creative education outside school.

The National Saturday Club gives 13–16-year-olds across the UK a unique opportunity to study subjects they love for free, on a Saturday, at their local university, college or cultural institution.

Club members attend weekly Saturday classes led by expert tutors in their local community, and take part in national events throughout the year, including visits to leading cultural institutions; Masterclasses with industry; as well as celebratory end of year events and exhibitions.

A remarkable national network of further education, higher education, the cultural sector, and industry works in partnership to deliver these enriching extracurricular activities.

With a particular focus on engaging young people from underserved and under-represented backgrounds, the National Saturday Club’s established model has proven impact. The programme offers a transformational opportunity to build versatile and creative skills, develop confidence and discover pathways to further study, training and careers.

The grant will support the charity to:

• Maintain and grow a UK-wide network of Saturday Clubs delivering free weekly sessions for young people.
• Reach more young people from underserved communities who face barriers to extracurricular opportunities.
• Provide national events: cultural visits, industry Masterclasses and the annual Summer Show at Somerset House.
• Further invest in tutor development programme, partnerships and evaluation to ensure the programme continues to deliver strong outcomes for young people.

Each year, more than 2,500 young people take part and evidence shows that participants increase their confidence, develop creative and transferable skills, and gain a clearer understanding of education and career opportunities.