The Faissola Foundation has continued its partnership with the London Academy of Excellence (LAE), helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds access educational opportunities that build confidence, broaden horizons and prepare them for future success. Since 2022, the Foundation and LAE have worked together to provide experiences that extend learning beyond the classroom, with the partnership now supporting an annual residential programme at UWC Atlantic, a college in South Wales.
This year’s residential, held from 1-5 June 2026, marked the third consecutive year that the Foundation has supported the programme. Set within the historic grounds of St Donat’s Castle in South Wales, students combined outdoor activities, including kayaking, bushcraft, archery and coastal walking, with workshops on public speaking, critical thinking, media literacy and the economics of a changing world. The programme was designed to encourage students to step outside their comfort zones, combining outdoor learning with academic enrichment in a setting very different from their everyday lives in London. For many, it was their first opportunity to experience life beyond London while developing new skills, confidence and lasting friendships.
Alex Crossman, Executive Head of LAE, said the residential plays an important role in preparing students for university, particularly those who will be the first in their family to attend university. As he said, “The Faissola Residential Programme serves a vital role in bridging the gap between sixth form and university for our students.”
Student feedback reflected the lasting impact of the week. One participant described it as “the best schooling experience I have had by far,” while another said the residential was “academically stimulating and loads of fun,” helping students develop confidence, teamwork and communication skills. One student described opportunities like these as “transformative” because they “give us experiences that many of us wouldn’t otherwise have had.”
The Faissola Foundation was established to expand educational opportunities for young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds by supporting initiatives that help remove barriers to education and open doors to future success. The Foundation believes that educational opportunity extends beyond academic achievement. Experiences that encourage young people to challenge themselves, explore new environments and develop confidence can have a lasting impact, yet they are not equally accessible to everyone. Through its partnership with LAE, the Foundation is helping ensure that students from lower socio-economic backgrounds can benefit from these opportunities.
Michele Faissola, Founder of the Faissola Foundation, said: “Programmes like this matter because they go beyond the classroom. They help students build confidence, develop perspective and imagine what is possible for their future.”
The Foundation will continue working with the London Academy of Excellence to create opportunities that broaden horizons, inspire ambition and help young people fulfil their potential, regardless of their background.
Read the full press release here.
