Education is often seen as a journey, a path filled with learning, personal growth and discovery. However, for young people who have experienced care, this journey is not straight forward and often littered with barriers and seemingly insurmountable challenges. There are hundreds of driven care-experienced young people who believe in the transformative power of education and need the support of nurturing teachers who will further ignite ambition and enable academic success. Lumina connects inspirational teachers with care-experienced young people enabling them to deliver weekly one to one online lessons focussed on removing barriers to learning, unleashing potential illuminating the way forward to brighter futures.

Lumina stands apart because it isn’t another tutoring service; it’s a partnership between Virtual Schools (the local authority arm with responsibility for young people in their care), like minded schools and dedicated teachers who share a deep-seated passion to enable care experienced young people to fulfil their potential. Teachers are not just imparting knowledge; they are lighting a torch that guides young individuals towards realising their academic potential.

At its core, Lumina represents a transformative journey. It’s about making a deep, lasting impact on the lives of care-experienced young people. Teachers are changing lives through their lasting commitment, nurturing trust and relentless drive to enable care experienced young individuals to achieve the highest grade possible, breaking down academic barriers that can often hold young people back. Our teachers are part of a collective effort that empowers young minds, equipping care experienced young people with the tools they need for success.

Education at Lumina is personalised. It’s about forming a connection, understanding each student’s unique strengths and challenges, and tailoring one’s approach to fit their individual needs. This kind of personalised support is often what makes the biggest difference in the educational journey of our young people.

Being part of Lumina also means being part of a community. It’s a network of educators who share your passion and commitment to making a difference. This community provides a support system, offering resources, training, and the camaraderie of like-minded individuals. When I speak to teachers about their experience on the Lumina programme, they speak about an incomparable fulfilment that comes from knowing that they have played a crucial role in shaping a young person’s future. Teachers often speak about the privilege of using their skillset to make a truly meaningful difference in the life of a young person. Sometimes, its about helping a student reach their first choice Sixth Form or University by progressing from a U to a B or higher. Lumina is enabling teachers to extend their roles beyond the classroom walls, to become a mentor, a guide, and a source of inspiration for young minds who need all the nurturing care and support that inspirational teachers can provide.

Speaking to dozens of teachers in the past year, I have discovered that teachers share a common thread - they care deeply about the enabling young people to discover, to unlock knowledge and ultimately see their pupils thrive in the world. I am hoping that if you are an inspirational teacher or know an inspiration teacher, you will help me share the opportunity and join the Lumina movement. Your dedication and commitment could be the very key that unlocks a world of possibilities for our care-experienced young individuals where their potential is recognised, nurtured, and realised.