#KingsLocal

Bespoke statements of intent with each local authority identify areas for collaboration and mutual priorities, informed by their strategic ambitions and King’s strengths. These agreements provide a framework for the King’s community to do even more to serve, support and sustain our home boroughs.

This local commitment is embedded in our Education, Research and Service and manifest in the students we teach and the knowledge we create. Partnerships with the capital’s institutions and organisations help students make the most of London as a living classroom, generate new knowledge and support the needs of our local communities.

From inspiring children across our home boroughs to pursue a university education to training staff and students to be local charity trustees, we are co-developing mutually beneficial solutions in partnership. 

Some examples include:

Local pupils receive intensive support from King’s

The King’s Scholars programme aims to encourage high-achieving Year 7to 9 pupils from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to apply to, and succeed at, top universities. Drawing from schools in Lambeth, Southwark and Westminster, the intensive education programme offers eight on-campus visits, including King’s Family Day. This event brings together pupils and their families for immersive university sessions and parental training activities. In 2020–21, the first group of King’s Scholars started sixth form and became eligible for our K+ programme, which provides a direct route for disadvantaged pupils from local boroughs to progress to King’s. 

Consultancy to local businesses

King’s Business School Consultancy Project matches final-year undergraduate students with local enterprises in our home boroughs to address their real-world business challenges and ambitions. One group of students provided consultancy to Slime Planet in Lambeth, the first dedicated slime shop and workshop in the UK. It offers slime making workshops for children (and occasionally adults), as well as STEM-focused school activities. ‘The King’s students were organised and researched the area well,’ said the business owners. ‘They also came up with good ideas, such as bringing in corporate clients and introducing certificates for our customers.’ 

Students mentor young Londoners

IntoUniversity is a charity that supports young people to realise their ambitions and aim high. King’s is the lead sponsor for the local learning centre in Kennington and our students volunteer as peer-to-peer mentors, encouraging young Londoners from our local communities to achieve their full potential. King’s graduate Jack Hall mentored Luke at the centre. Luke said, ‘Since working with Jack, my history grade has improved dramatically. I’m more of a leader now too: I support the younger students at school and I’m a prefect.’

King’s connects local charities looking for new trustees

Board Bank was developed in response to local charities who told us that they struggle to recruit trustees and asked if King’s could help. Our staff and students also asked for more opportunities to support local communities. Board Bank aims to link the two, providing training and support to staff and students who want to volunteer on a local charity board. Matira Wheeler from Young Westminster Foundation said, ‘Pathways to support the recruitment of trustees from King’s are hugely valuable and will create even h5er links between the university and local charities.’ 

School pupils experience real-world research

South London school pupils are connecting with King’s researchers through the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience’s (IoPPN) Youth Awards. Targeting 15- to 18-year-olds from the IoPPN’s local communities, they aim to inspire young Londoners to study science and maths subjects to university level and beyond. The awards offer a unique opportunity for the pupils to gain practical experience during a two-day placement within research departments for science-based subjects, including genetics, economics, psychology, health and computer science. 

Buying locally

King’s aims to purchase food and drink from within Lambeth, Southwark and Westminster where possible. Menus designed by our in-house King’s Food team include honey from Bermondsey Street Bees and granola from Nibs etc. in Borough Market, as well as cured meats from Crown & Queue, beer from Fourpure and cider from Hawkes, all based in Southwark. Across King’s, we are making choices about how we procure products to ensure that our purchases bring as much benefit as possible to our local communities. 

King’s joins forces with local charities

Teams of students, staff and local charities worked together to co-create solutions to some of the challenges our communities face during King’s Civic Challenge. Supported by the Mayor of London, 90 students and staff joined together with local charities from Lambeth, Southwark and Westminster to address issues such as supporting vulnerable families, empowering disadvantaged young people and improving the lives of local residents. Elena Wüllhorst, a student in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities, said, ‘It’s a great opportunity for students to participate in our
local communities, share our experiences and develop new ones.’ 

Addressing global social issues locally

Global London Advocates, a new programme developed by the School of Global Affairs, challenges undergraduate students to apply the skills and theory acquired during their studies to help solve global social issues at a local level. Working on projects that focus on local, global and cultural awareness, the students from the Departments of Geography, Global Health & Social Medicine and International Development are being asked to think critically and consider differing perspectives. Projects ranged from supporting newly arrived migrants and refugees in Brixton to conducting a social impact audit for Slade Gardens Community Play Association in Stockwell. 

An after-school club with a difference

Hospital Heroes is an after-school club for Year 7 to 9 pupils from non-selective schools in Lambeth and Southwark. It aims to increase students’ awareness and knowledge of the range of healthcare careers available to them as well as the qualifications and skills needed to pursue a role in the sector. Featuring five in-school sessions and one visit to King’s, the pupils follow a patient on their journey to recovery, meeting doctors, radiologists, surgeons and physiotherapists. Through projects that include designing their own health centre or planning departments, staff, equipment and budgets, students gain experience of how their studies connect with real-world careers. 

A fundraising campaign for Westminster

A team of behavioural economists and political scientists from the Department of Political Economy have been working with Westminster City Council to secure donations for a new charity to tackle social problems in the borough. Westminster City Council wanted to target more affluent Band H households to help address local challenges such as rough sleeping and loneliness. They could not increase Council Tax for this group because discretionary changes cannot be made to one band alone. The King’s team helped design fundraising letters using behavioural insights and analysed data on contributions, which have now reached almost £1m over 18 months. 

Coding for girls

A King’s PhD student ran coding workshops for local Guides groups in Lambeth, aiming to develop their interest, confidence and skills in programming. Jonny Jackson, from the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, developed the workshops to encourage the Guides to pursue a career in the coding industry to highlight and celebrate female coders throughout history. ‘The Guides definitely learned something new. Some picked up the concepts quickly, but for others it was just as important to show them the possibilities,’ said Caroline Brown, a Guide leader at 1st North Lambeth Guides.