Let Teachers SHINE winners 2026
Eight innovative teacher-led projects win share of £170,000 from SHINE.
Let Teachers SHINE, News
SHINE: Support and Help IN Education
Every child deserves the best start in life.
SHINE gives children brighter futures by unlocking barriers to learning.
We support children and young people in hundreds of schools across the North West, North East and Yorkshire & Humber.
We focus on areas of deprivation where we have the biggest opportunity to make a positive difference to children’s lives.
Innovation
SHINE identifies, evaluates, and scales up the most promising educational ideas.
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Philanthropy
SHINE connects donors with teachers to create new opportunities for disadvantaged children.
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Insight
SHINE uses evidence from its work to influence positive changes for children.
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Our latest impact
What we achieved over the past 12 months
SHINE's projects have made a significant impact.
In the last 12 months, we have helped more than 100,000 children across nearly 750 schools, while also providing support to over 26,000 parents and 5,220 teachers.
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Information for schools
Get involved
Opportunities to join our network of successful practice across the North.
Discover our funding opportunities, the support we offer, and ways to participate in our programmes.
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Fundraise for SHINE
You could help transform young lives
It's easy to make a donation to SHINE. Even the smallest gift could make a big difference to the lives of children in the North.
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SHINE's projects
Find out more about the projects and programmes we support
SHINE backs innovative learning approaches aimed at levelling the playing field for all children.
We fund school-based projects supporting children aged 0-19, addressing a wide range of areas such as reading, maths, science, verbal communication, parental engagement, school transitions, and wellbeing.
Find out moreEducation should unleash life’s potential, but too often, a child’s future is shaped by their background and circumstances beyond their control.
Many from low-income homes start school without key skills, fall behind, and over half leave school without essential GCSEs in English and maths – limiting their opportunities for further education or good jobs.
The divide is particularly acute in parts of the North.
Quick links to our Latest Updates
Let Teachers SHINE Winner 2026: Sean Harris – Right To Rest
A transformative initiative tackling sleep inequality – a hidden barrier preventing thousands of children from reaching their full potential at school.
Let Teachers SHINE, News
Let Teachers SHINE Winner 2026: Matt Revill – AI For Access
Primary school headteacher is pioneering the use of AI to speed up planning, create resources and make classrooms more responsive to learners' needs.
Let Teachers SHINE, News
Let Teachers SHINE 2026 Winner: Sarah Featherstone – Ready To Thrive
Early years teacher is launching a targeted intervention to help nursery age children from disadvantaged backgrounds arrive at primary school with the skills they need to succeed.
Let Teachers SHINE, NewsInspiring Stories of impact
Louise’s story
When Louise started on the programme she had been going through a very tricky time at home. She struggled to concentrate and keep still in class.
Thanks to Ready Let's Read, created by teacher Rachel Ward, Louise is now able to read and her life chances have been transformed.
Eva’s Story
It’s amazing the sudden progress she has made. The way she will now speak to adults confidently and share her ideas. It’s just incredible.
Ever since starting reception, Eva had been very shy. She always avoided eye contact with adults and never put her hand up in class to share ideas. Both Eva’s mum and her teacher were acutely aware of how reluctant she was at school.
Sofia’s Story
Sofia "had no idea what UCAS was" before starting her A-Levels. By the end of college, she had secured a place to study biomedicine at a top London University.
Sofia, who speaks English as an additional language, came to study at Leeds Sixth Form College. She struggled with anxiety towards learning and had low confidence in her ability, particularly when it came to attempting exam questions.