Life Skills Programme
£310,000 donated to local Schools since 1992
Harpenden Lions Club Life Skills programme supports schools in Harpenden and surrounding villages to help young people develop the skills they need to manage their lives, fulfil their potential and become responsible members of society.
Since 1992 Harpenden Lions Club has operated a Life Skills programme under which we raise and donate funds to our local schools to support them in delivering Life Skills education. Broadly this encompasses everything within the PSHCE/RHSE curriculum and includes measures to promote wellbeing and mental health.
The grants can be used for staff training, the purchase of teaching and learning resources or services or support services offered by HFL Education. Provided the proposed use of the grant falls within the objectives of our programme we try not to be restrictive on how schools use the funds.
Since our programme began we have raised and donated £310,000 to mainstream and special needs schools in Harpenden and the surrounding villages of Wheathampstead, Redbourn, Kimpton, Markyate and Flamstead.
Initiatives we have supported have included:
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Workshops on drug and alcohol awareness
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Educational Theatre Company productions on Relationship, Health and Sex Education.
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Teaching and learning resources on a variety of topics within the PSHCE/RHSE curriculum
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Staff training on Interpersonal and reasoning skills development, teamwork and critical thinking
​​​​If your school is looking for funding for resources or staff training to help your students prepare for the adult world please contact us at: info@harpenden-lions.co.uk
Testamonials and examples
Wood End School 2026
The book donation to Wood End Primary School demonstrates the Lions Club's commitment to enhancing literacy and supporting young people's development. The resources contribute to the school's Life Skills initiatives, providing pupils with access to quality literature and learning materials.
Clare Smart, Deputy Headteacher, Wood End Primary School
Beech Hyde School 2026
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"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.
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
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
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”
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!"
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.