Our 2025-26 Impact Report
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
We are very proud to present our Impact Report for April 2025 - March 2026.
This period has been one of transition and growth for Ignite!. We have continued to increase the delivery of our programmes, expanding the number of sites for our Creative Sparks sessions to five, increasing the capacity of Primary Parliament to accommodate for the numbers of schools now signing up and growing the ever-expanding FOSAC programme to reach further and wider than ever before. Inclusion has remained the thread underpinning all of our programmes, and our work nurturing creativity and curiosity has successfully reached those who need it most, whether that’s due to their learning needs, gender or race, or because of where they live or their asylum status.
The numbers of people involved in making our programmes happen have bloomed, and we now have an incredible pool of freelance creative practitioners providing breadth and depth, new ideas and collaborative approaches, and enhancing the quality of our work. Our core team has strengthened, with staff adding strings to their bow with a range of training and development opportunities, and by being joined by a new team member focusing on our relationships with partners.
We worked closely with the trustees of the Nottinghamshire Festival of Science and Curiosity to finalise the arrangements for a merging of our organisations, and we joined together at our Away Day in July where we were able to connect, learn from each other and chart a way forwards for the benefit for Ignite! and the continued profile and impact of the Festival within our suite of programmes. Here we also marked the end of term of my predecessor as Chair Joe Burton, whose tenure was marked by its stability, rigour and joy, and on behalf of us all I thank Joe here again for all he did to lead us to the position we are in today.
I have been in and around the work of Ignite! For over 15 years, since supporting the establishment of Lab_13s across the East Midlands as part of the Ignition Programme, but as I have stepped into the role of Chair of Trustees this year I have been able to spend more time getting to know the current team and trustees. I have been struck by the passion, dedication and care of everyone involved with our charity and I am energised by the difference Ignite! makes so many lives and it is a real privilege to be involved as Chair.
The fruits of much of the work we have done in this period will flow into 2026, and I invite you to keep an eye out for the launch of our new website, the development of our strategy and communications plans and the continued development of new and innovative programmes which make a big impact on the lives of the children and young people of Nottinghamshire.
Professor Susan Anderson
Ignite! Chair of Trustees
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