Introducing the Wednesday afternoons ‘Life Long Learning Webinar Series’

Keep your Wednesday’s free for our Life Long Learning opportunity. 

During the pandemic we have almost all been drawn into the wonderful world of webinars, video conferencing and online learning. We realised that not everyone has this opportunity and started to think of ways to raise money to support those who don’t. So, here is our story of how we are using webinars to both offer Lifelong Learning and raise money to support others. 

Our focus as an organisation is providing access to education for all children everywhere. To do this we need to share knowledge and learning, and raise funds too, and we’ve been developing ways to do both at the same time.

The partners and teachers we work with are doing amazing work across the globe, and we are trialling ways to share some of this learning so it’s available to an ever-widening audience. 

Our partners are giving their time to share educational webinars on useful topics for a wide range of people, and offer a percentage of any subsequent course sales to support the project work of the Foundation so that we can achieve Education for All children everywhere. 

The webinars are carefully selected to support teaching and learning and they may also support building business skills, creativity and wellbeing.

We need to raise enough funds to provide technology and network connectivity to ensure teachers and students across the world can access the same learning opportunities in a safe way that we may take for granted. We also know that in today’s climate many people can’t offer the support they could before. So, we are offering these useful, educational webinars on a ‘donate what you can’ basis so that all of our supporters gain something, and can help change the world at the same time.

As this story unfolds, we are finding that new people are discovering the Steve Sinnott Foundation through these webinars, and we are raising vital funds through the ‘Suggested Donation Tickets’.

Please have a look at the webinars coming up soon on the link below, they are almost always held on a Wednesday afternoon or evening, so keep your diary free and come and learn something invaluable, whilst helping others around the globe have access to the same opportunities.


You can see some of our past webinars here too:

Trauma Informed Coaching with Will Thomas - Wednesday 9th September 2020

In this webinar Will shared some very useful information about recognising trauma and understanding the grief cycle. We got to understand how this affects learning and the ability to relate to others. Knowing more about trauma helps us to understand the children in our classrooms and their ability to learn. Children affected by adverse childhood events, are at higher risk of trauma. This needs to be treated as there is a higher chance of adverse effects later in life too. To learn more, you can watch the video of the webinar here:

Zoom Basics with Mike Fleetham, Thinking Classrooms – Wednesday 16th September 2020

 

Mike Fleetham shared some Zoom basics knowhow in this webinar. Even those of us who have been using Zoom for some time learnt about extra features that we didn’t know about. But the session wasn’t just about features. It was a chance to discuss creative ways that Zoom can be used as a teaching tool, with many teachers on the call sharing ideas and ways to make lessons more fun and engaging too. Watch the video here:

The Power of Intuitive Art with Heather Lillieth – Wednesday 30th September 2020


Intuitive Art is a great way into, or back into, art and creative practice both for adults and children. For some reason many of us are are often put off art, thinking that we are not good enough but we can let go of all that in sessions like this. Intuitive art is about letting go of all the worry, and all the stresses of your day. It’s a time for play and having fun, and in so doing it recharges your batteries. For artists its great to loosen up. For others it’s a chance to play. For all of us it’s a chance to reconnect with ourselves. 

Storytelling with Impact for Business with B&G – Wednesday 7th October 2020


In this webinar we explored the importance of stories for organisations. Stories have an emotional impact, they create connection and empathy, we remember them and it’s how we learn. They describe stories as “packaged wisdom”, the very definition of a story is that it is about change. They shared many stories about projects they have done to illustrate this idea. Personally, I will remember the story about the Children’s Republic of Shoreditch!

Communicating Through Quiet Mind Poetry – Wednesday 14th October 2020


This interactive webinar created the opportunity to work together to create two poems. Each participant brough a piece of nature to the webinar, where we explored the qualities of each piece and then worked together to combine ideas and create a poem. It was refreshing to break rules, work together and combine different things and ideas together. 

Business Impact with Professional Audio – Wednesday 21st October 2020

 

Sound quality is often overlooked in digital productions. But with more of us now attending all business meetings online in video conferences bad sound quality can make the difference between a bad meeting experience and a great one. During the pandemic many organisations started to look at what they could create online to serve their communities. Podcasts, Webinars, Videos and Zoom workshops sprouted up everywhere, and the sound quality was often overlooked. We invited Pierre-Nicolas Schmitt of Sonata Academy to share his knowledge with us to help us all get better quality sound.

The Steve Sinnott Foundation • September 14, 2020

Empowering Student Voices: Young Ambassadors Champion Inclusive Education for All

By Ann Beatty • October 13, 2025
In our continued commitment to ensuring quality and inclusive education for every child, we’ve taken our advocacy to a new level by empowering the next generation to lead the conversation. In partnership with The Gambia Teachers Union, we recently convened the Foundation’s Young Ambassadors for a vibrant day of engagement dedicated to promoting the right to education for all. The event brought together passionate students from selected senior secondary schools across Region One, including St. John’s School for the Deaf, to explore what it truly means to make education inclusive, equitable, and accessible to every learner. 

Seeds of Hope 2025: Young People Planting Peace and Sustainability Around the World

By Ann Beatty • October 3, 2025
The Steve Sinnott Foundation is proud to celebrate the inspirational winners of the 2025 Seeds of Hope for a Better Future competition, a global initiative supported by UNESCO that brings together creativity, community, and a shared commitment to peace and sustainability. This unique project invited schools across the world from nursery and primary through to secondary and high school to explore the values of peace, cultural understanding, and care for the planet. In the face of climate change, young people were asked to tell their stories through art, performance, and digital creativity, highlighting how small seeds of action can grow into powerful movements for hope. The results have been extraordinary. Schools in France, the UK, Gambia, Haiti, and Kenya have been recognised for their outstanding contributions, with projects ranging from community gardens and sculptures to dance performances and illustrated stories. Each winner has shown how young voices and imagination can nurture peace and sustainability in ways that inspire us all. The full Awards Ceremony can be watched linked here: S eeds of Hope For A Better Future Awards Ceremony 2025 Highlights from the Winners Oak View Primary and Nursery School (UK) created Faces of Feeling, a collection of joyful sculptures already exhibited in a local gallery. Judges praised their work as supporting the wellbeing of others and embodying the idea of children as true “Seeds of Hope.” St Joseph’s Senior Secondary School (Gambia) painted Campaign for a Sustainable Banjul , reflecting real-world climate action in their city. The judges described it as “a most deserving and robust winner.” In France , the Jardin d'Enfants des Nations Unies (United Nations Nursery School) won hearts with Wind of Peace , where 5-6 year olds combined drawings, paintings, and tree planting to champion reforestation. Lyng Hall Secondary School, Coventry (UK) collaborated with Henley Green Primary and the UK Literacy Association to produce The Heart Shaped Hole – an innovative and metaphorical take on Seeds of Hope. Earlsdon Primary School, Coventry (UK) impressed with Primary Plot , a project that included gardening with the visually impaired, reflecting inclusivity and sustainability. A remarkable cross-collaboration between 21 schools across West Yorkshire, Essex, and Tower Hamlets (UK) resulted in Lights, Camera, Score , an ambitious combination of animation, music, and storytelling. CIMA Community School of Hope, Haiti shared Konbit - a video of dance and solidarity, inspiring villages to work together for peace and dignity. Daraja Academy, Kenya presented an ambitious and optimistic project integrating sustainability into everyday school life. Celebrating Creativity and Peace This year’s competition was judged by an impressive panel of artists, writers, and cultural leaders including Sir Antony Gormley, Edmund de Waal, Dame Liz Forgan, Hugh Quarshie, and Rathna Ramanathan. Their collective expertise highlighted the quality and depth of the entries, each of which showed how art can be a powerful tool for global understanding and change. The Seeds of Hope initiative is part of UNESCO UK’s Arts and Culture for Peace programme, first launched in 2022. It has grown from earlier collaborations such as the Coventry Young Ambassadors’ Islands of Peace Japanese Garden , opened in 2021 a living reminder that seeds planted in communities can continue to flourish. Highlights from the ceremony can be found here at this playlist Looking Ahead As Ann Beatty, UNESCO ASPnet UK National Coordinator , shared: “The quality of entries was extraordinary. We are delighted at the response to this amazing initiative in collaboration with our international partners.” And in the words of judge Jannette Cheong : “Young people around the world understand well the value of peace and tolerant relationships between cultures. Their creativity is an inspiration to all of us.” At The Steve Sinnott Foundation, we believe that education is the seed from which hope grows. The Seeds of Hope competition is a shining example of how young people through creativity, compassion, and collaboration are already shaping a more peaceful and sustainable future. You can access the full online awards presentation here: Seeds of Hope For A Better Future Awards Ceremony 2025

Teachers Advance in Guidance and Counselling Training in The Gambia

By Ann Beatty • August 18, 2025
The journey to strengthen the well-being and success of learners in The Gambia continues with a renewed commitment to guidance and counselling in schools. By August 14th 2025, we have successfully trained 140 educators across 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑 & 𝟒 under our Guidance & Counselling Programme. A programme designed to equip educators with the skills to support students’ academic, social, and emotional development. Region 3 Teachers Complete Level 2 Training On Wednesday, 6th August, thirty teachers from Region 3 (North Bank Region) began a three-day Level 2 Guidance and Counselling training at the Christian Council in Kanifing. This programme built on their earlier Level 1 training in Farafenni, with a focus on deepening their capacity to serve as school-based counsellors. The training concluded with a certificate presentation ceremony, recognising the teachers’ commitment and marking an important step in their professional development. These certificates symbolize more than an achievement; they represent each teacher’s readiness to provide psychosocial support, guidance, and mentorship to learners across their schools.