Leeds Community Foundation (LCF)

The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) has a partnership with Leeds Community Foundation, the city’s largest independent grant-maker. GSAL has supported LCF as members since 2013, but this partnership formalises a closer collaboration focused on student engagement, fundraising and volunteering to benefit the wider Leeds community.

By pooling donations, the Leeds Fund ensures that contributions can reach diverse communities and respond to pressing social challenges.

Aims

Through the partnership, GSAL students contribute to the Leeds Fund, which has awarded £2.8 million to projects across the city, directly benefitting over 21,000 people since 2016. The fund supports a wide range of local causes, particularly those focused on youth, enterprise, employability, mental health and tackling social isolation. By pooling donations, the Leeds Fund ensures that contributions can reach diverse communities and respond to pressing social challenges.

Background

GSAL has supported LCF since 2013.

Resources

The partnership also incorporates educational experiences, including workshops, interactive sessions and panels that help students understand social challenges in Leeds and how charitable organisations work to address them. By linking practical volunteering with reflection and learning, students see the real-world effects of their contributions, which reinforces a sense of responsibility and active citizenship.

Impact

As the first independent school to establish this level of partnership with Leeds Community Foundation, GSAL builds on its long history of supporting charitable causes and civic engagement. The collaboration provides students with opportunities to make a tangible difference in their city while learning about social impact, community needs and the importance of generosity.

Pupil Involvement

Students from nursery through to sixth form (ages 2–18) take part in activities suited to their age and ability. Younger pupils engage in initiatives such as buying and preparing gifts for less privileged children, fostering empathy and awareness from an early age. Older students contribute through hands-on volunteering, supporting events like

youth-focused projects, community workshops and fundraising activities. This multi-age involvement allows all students to develop leadership, teamwork and civic skills while directly impacting the city.

Frequency

The activities run year on year, taking place regularly throughout the school calendar rather than as single events. GSAL supports multiple LCF initiatives.