What is the Life Skills programme and what is its scale and impact?
-
The Harpenden Lions Life Skills programme was begun in 1992 and provides funding to schools in Harpenden, Redbourn, Kimpton, Markyate, Flamstead and Wheathampstead to help deliver high quality Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE).
-
The programme supports 27 schools and around 9,000 children each year.
-
Since its inception over £310,000 has been donated to local schools in the last 30 years (around £9,000 per year) - and more than 9,000 children and young people have benefitted annually.
Why does it matter?
-
Local educators emphasise that academic success must be paired with social and emotional skills for young people to thrive.
-
The programme helps schools deliver these skills, which are progressively more difficult to obtain as children grow up in an increasingly complex environment (Herts Advertiser, 6 April 2018)
How have schools used the funding?
Over time the programme has expanded to cover a wide range of topics. Schools choose how best to use the donated support.
Initiatives have included:
-
Workshops on drug and alcohol awareness
-
E safety and cyberbullying, building resilience and self esteem
-
Sex education and healthy relationships
-
Interpersonal and reasoning skills development, teamwork and critical thinking
-
Mindfulness, mental health support, and wellbeing programmes delivered with Herts for Learning
How is it funded?
Funding comes from:
-
Harpenden Lions’ own fundraising activities, including the Highland Gathering (around 23% of funding in recent years)
-
Grants from charitable trusts and local businesses
-
The Harpenden Lions Charitable Trust Fund, which is primarily devoted to Life Skills work in local schools
Evolution into the Youth Support Programme
-
In the recent past, the Lions have expanded Life Skills into a broader Youth Support Programme - which still funds PSHE but which will also support other initiatives.
-
We wish to broaden the scope of this support and to extend both our financial and practical assistance to schools to organisations and to individuals.
Examples of this might include:
Caring for the Environment
-
Harpenden Lions Club has a long-standing partnership with the Town Council in maintaining and enhancing the local environment. We are conscious that young people are increasingly aware of the importance of environmental stewardship - and building on this shared commitment we have developed a new environmental initiative that connects our interest in conservation with that of environmentally conscious young people. This has led to the creation of the David Shall Environment Programme.
-
David was a long-time member of Harpenden Lions Club and an active supporter of Sustainable St. Albans. He died in 2025. He was passionate about caring for the environment and championed a number of local initiatives. In memory of his work we have set up this programme to support our schools in promoting environmental education.
-
If you are considering an environmental project such as developing an outdoor learning area, re-wilding an area or any other biodiversity initiative which you think will encourage a better understand of the natural world please contact us so that we can consider funding you or pointing you to others who can offer practical help and support with your project.
Young Leaders in Service
The Young Leaders in Service scheme seeks to recognise and encourage young people in the area who want to make a difference in our local community.
It recognises young people between the ages of 8 and 18 for their community service over a 12-month period. An award such as this on a C.V. can be a significant boost when applying for university places or career opportunities.
There are three award levels: a Bronze Seal award is given for 25 hours, a Silver award for 50 hours and a Gold award for 100 hours of service to the community. Each person is provided with a logbook in which to record their service activities, which can be in several different categories and which could include either service to the young, to the elderly, to family members or the homeless and hungry...or could include initiatives to protect our environment. Fundraising also counts as hours towards the award
Individual Awards
-
We have previously supported participation in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, overseas expeditions involving voluntary work and local volunteering through the Leaders in Service Programme. We are continuing to support such initiatives, and welcome enquiries
-
Most recently we have supported the donation to a school for the purchase of camping and hiking equipment for special needs children to complete a Duke of Edinburgh award. We also and supported Beech Hyde School in financial support of young people to attend an Easter Camp.
-
We have also made an individual donation to Ms Lexi Trim, who we sponsored at the district stage of the Lions Young Ambassador Programme, and who had the initiative to develop a support programme for people undergoing chemotherapy. This has led her to be in receipt of a number of accolades including being a finalist in the Future of Hertfordshire Award at the Heart Hertfordshire Hero Awards.
Our funds are small by comparison with some other charities but if you have a project in mind that will feel fits the relevant criteria, and which would benefit either you or your organisation - or if you would like to be considered for the Young Leaders in Service programme - then please ask us.
For further details you can contact us at: info@harpenden-lions.co.uk or use the contact us form
Testamonials and examples
Beech Hyde School 2026
_edited.jpg)
"The Lions Club in Harpenden has been a huge supporter and lifeline to our school. We are a very small school in a pocket of deprivation. It is our aim that our children get the same opportunities as other children and the Lions have supported this by running a Young People in Service scheme to inspire them to help out in their community and be recognised for this. They have provided funding for our wildlife wood and places at our sports camp for disadvantaged children. We could not do without them! "
Karen Thomas, Beech Hyde School.
Kimpton Primary School July 2021
Hosted A-Life mental health workshops
"Pupils, staff, & parents very positive, children interacted, will follow up & extend in teaching next year continuing student well-being a priority
Thank you again for your support!"
Roundwood Primary, Dec 2019
£500 toward cost Jigsaw digital whole school PSHE scheme £1925
"Thank you ever so much - we truly are very grateful! I’ve been learning curriculum (very detailed), planning its use across school, including training staff for implementation
It really will make a large difference to children's PSHE education and help teacher workload."
Laura Stevenson, Life Skills lead
Grove Junior School Sensory Garden, 2022
Eleanor Courquin, PSHE lead at Grove Junior, describes the positive impact this will have on students at the school and shows us around the wonderful new garden!
St Nicholas CE Primary School 2022
£500 toward £1,104 cost Jigsaw Scheme of Work - years 6-8:
Hard-copy folder with teaching resources, jigsaw friend, chime, & Jerrie Cat, and digital teaching materials
A big thank you for enabling full access Jigsaw scheme - works well as each class can use the resources. Themes include bullying and mental health. Can also be used in assemblies.
Just completed great set of lessons on friendship qualities and building resilience in year 3. .. scheme up to date with resources and clips that children really relate to. Thank you again!
Rachel Weldon PHSE lead at St Nicholas
Batford Nursery School June 2022
“Thanks for generous £500 bought books (& storage unit ) with a focus on diversity
Very grateful - additions to library will make a difference for all pupils”
Sauncy Wood climbing wall, March 2023
Funded in full for a day by Harpenden Lions
Every class had a 45 minute slot, so each pupil had several turns. Benefits to the children included increased risk taking, greater resilience and confidence building. All were evidenced on the day and the children were clearly having a very rewarding time!
Sauncey Wood Primary School Dec 2015
"Thanks to the Harpenden Lions Club for the generous donation of £500 to pay for the Healthy School day and for supporting us to achieve Healthy Schools status."
Building Futures: Growing pupil empowerment and agency wellbeing conference
Funded 12 local schools attendance
General feedback: particular interest - building self-efficacy for independence and resilience; speakers particularly impressive - inspiring and engaging; great conference with thought provoking content to share with colleagues.