United Learning, the country’s largest multi-academy group, is setting up a charity to run its new community hubs, but has stressed it will not ‘take resources from teaching and learning’ .

The 90s academy United learning is creating “United Communities” as a subsidiary to manage the 26 hubs it plans to put into operation by the end of the 2025-26 academic year.

Community hubs offer things like community meals, youth services, early childhood groups, walking groups, skills sharing sessions, cooking and family activities.

United Learning said they also provide adult learning, community allowances, community action initiatives and “parent-led” SEND support, although they did not specify what this means.

The trust has already opened 14 hubs, in locations including Salford, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Bognor Regis, and said six more are currently in development.

The new Labor government has said it wants schools to be at the heart of their communities. He is committed to creating a network of youth centers and was interested in community hub models already managed by trusts like Oasis.

Its manifesto promised that its Young Futures program would be a “network of hubs reaching into every community”, welcoming educators, mental health support workers and guidance counselors to “support young people’s mental health and prevent them from be drawn into criminality.”

“A necessity rather than a pleasure”

THE trust plans to expand its core team once the charity launches to “better serve the hubs,” it said in a press release.

Sir Jon Coles, its chief executive, said: “It is essential that every school remains focused on teaching and learning and does not stray from its mission.

“But what has become clear over the past several years is that many of the families we serve depend on our schools for much more than the education of their children. For many, we are the focal point when they need wider help and assistance.

“As a result, community hubs are now a necessity rather than a benefit. »

Coles said the trust was already seeing schools with centers report increased parental engagement and better attendance – and believes they are a contributing factor.

The creation of the association will allow the clusters to seek funding from alternative sources, he added.

“The support that previously came from local authorities has either been reduced or lost completely, with schools filling the gaps. »

He said it was a “laudable responsibility” but did not attract any additional funding from the government.

Analysis by the Local Government Association found that English councils face a funding gap of £2.3 billion in 2025-26, rising to £3.9 billion in 2026-27 .

“By formalizing our approach through the creation of the charity, we will be able to strengthen our focus and attract funding while ensuring it works alongside teaching and learning, but without taking any resources from it,” Coles added.