Case Study: The Finishing School Foundation
Overview
At The Finishing School Foundation, the mission is clear: remove barriers to professional opportunity for underrepresented young people across the UK. Through free, high-impact programmes in digital, media, and tech, they provide the tools, networks, and confidence needed to break into competitive industries—and now, with our support, they’re taking that mission into the age of AI.
In July 2025, we awarded a grant to support the development and integration of AI-focused education across Brixton Finishing School’s suite of programmes. These initiatives, including The ADcademy, ADventure, and their flagship Summer School, already reach over 28,000 young people a year—many of whom face systemic barriers such as digital poverty, lack of professional networks, or being NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training).
Why This Project Matters
Young people from low-income and ethnically diverse backgrounds are often left out of conversations about future-facing technology. At the same time, small grassroots organisations—especially those operating with minimal paid staff—struggle to adopt and model ethical, effective AI use.
This project tackles both challenges head-on by:
Developing a new AI learning module for over 2,500 annual users of the ADcademy platform (ages 18–30)
Embedding hands-on AI education into the in-person Summer School for 60 students
Creating bite-sized AI learning for 25,000+ younger learners (ages 16–18) on the ADventure outreach platform
Training The Finishing School Foundation's internal team in ethical, practical use of AI tools—boosting their capacity to deliver high-quality programming with a largely volunteer-led operation
Creating Scalable, Multi-Layered Impact
This grant supports a layered, inclusive approach to AI literacy:
8 staff/volunteers upskilled in AI tools to improve internal operations
60 Summer School participants trained in real-world AI use across research, strategy, and creativity
2,500+ ADcademy learners accessing youth-friendly, practical AI training
25,000+ school-age learners introduced to AI through engaging, age-appropriate content
Whether a young person is attending a live bootcamp or discovering ADcademy through TikTok, they’ll now have access to the AI knowledge and confidence needed to thrive.
A Model for the Future
With over 40 industry partners involved, The Finishing School Foundation is not just teaching AI—they're building a diverse talent pipeline ready to shape its future. This project exemplifies how small, community-rooted organisations can lead the way in ethical, inclusive AI education, while also strengthening their own operations through responsible tech use.