Working Together – Winning Together

Amanda Martin, president of the National Education Union, 2020.

The work of the Steve Sinnott Foundation began in 2009 to build upon the legacy left behind following Steve’s death in 2008. Now, after 10 years’ experience working in partnership with teachers and educators worldwide, the Foundation has secured its reputation in its own right. SSF projects are offering life changing experiences for many people across the world.

I am so proud of my association with the Foundation and of the fact that I worked with it from its very early days. When I first met Steve I was a young teacher. His calm, unifying and strong educational values really resonated with me. He encouraged and welcomed ideas and advocated trade unionism alongside the absolute need for social justice and fairness. However, it wasn’t until I spoke at Steve’s memorial service that I realised the true impact he had regarding education and solidarity not just in the UK but across the world.

In its quest to continue work imbued with Steve’s values, the Foundation has at its heart the ethos of enabling and partnership. It ensures that while initial support is provided, those involved in the various projects are not dependent upon the Foundation. The aim for each project is that it can expand and thrive; that learning and successes can be shared. Every project involves working together to develop trust and ownership so that the they are not only fit for purpose but are sustainable, locally owned, managed and valued.

The Foundation’s key vision is working towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4). It believes that quality education is the key to achieving all seventeen of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Foundation’s commitment to gender equality is something I believe it should be proud of as it sits at the forefront of all its thinking. The vision that started with Steve has definitely been built upon and expanded by the Foundation. The work of SSF has impacted positively on so many lives.

The Positive Periods Project has captured the true power of collaboration between trade unions and the Foundation. To date it has enabled girls in The Gambia to be given the opportunity to change their lives through being able to attend school every school day throughout the month.

Teachers in The Gambia have shared their learning with Sierra Leonean teachers and they in turn are sharing learning and training with colleagues in Uganda and Malawi; educators in Cuba and Haiti are also involved in sharing this learning. This has not only meant the completion of one successful project but has, in fitting with Steve’s philosophy, inspired, encouraged and empowered those involved to share their success - showing the real meaning of partnership and working together.

Despite some setbacks the Learning Resource Centres in Haiti and Nepal have put education at the centre of these communities and proven that education can make a difference.

All of these projects show the importance of education globally and the link with international solidarity that the Foundation continues to achieve.

As I complete my presidential year, I am reminded of the words of encouragement Steve was always willing to give and I know that through their work the Foundation continues to inspire that can-do attitude. Sadly, due to Covid19 there is no National Education Union (NEU) Annual Conference this year which is a shame because in writing my own speech I looked at the speech Steve gave when he was the National Union of Teachers (NUT) President. Words of unity, passion and solidarity resonated throughout and that’s what would have resonated in my words too.

“Working together, winning together” is certainly a motto I live by, because together we can achieve so much more. Whether that be highlighting and striving to defeat inequality and hardship or actively involving others in projects that can make a difference and make the world a fair and equitable place.

Steve was taken too early from those he loved but through its ethos, aims and hard work the Foundation has ensured that one man’s solidarity and love has touched, enhanced and improved so many more lives than he might have ever imagined.

From Engage issue 20.
AMANDA MARTIN • October 6, 2021
By Ann Beatty April 6, 2025
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Spring is definitely here, daffodils, blossom and crocuses are all basking in the bright sunshine. There is still a chill in the air in the shade but it's happening and all the seeds that were sown over the last few months are coming to fruition. At the Foundation, we have been planning the year ahead and our Positive Periods and Prevention of Gender Based Violence programmes got underway this weekend in Haiti and Ghana. These projects will have a long-lasting effect on the lives of the women and girls who take part: tackling the root causes of gender-based violence and enabling girls to attend school every day when they have their period, to feel safe at school and know how to take action when they are faced with violence. These are the first of many projects planned for the year ahead as we continue to work towards Education for All children everywhere.