THE STATIONERS' FOUNDATION

Our Mission

• To promote and encourage education and research in the Communication and Content industries
• To provide financial assistance and care to those who work or have worked in our industries and their dependents in time of need
• To support, amongst others, the charities of the Lord Mayor and Corporation of London and the Royal Marines

History

The Company’s involvement in training and education began around 1557 when ‘Apprenticeship Indentures’ was drawn up by the Company and Printing Houses were obliged to present their apprentices at Stationers’ Hall, for the fee of sixpence, during their first year. In 1861 the Company opened the first Stationers’ School to benefit the sons of the Liverymen and Freemen of the Company. A larger school followed but unfortunately it was closed in 1984. Today there are a number of ways in which the charity supports training, education and welfare.

The Foundation Activities - A Staircase of Opportunity

Postgraduate Bursary Scheme – The Foundation offers 15 annual awards for students on selected postgraduate courses that are related to the Communication and Content industries.  For more information about the scheme, click here.

To read an article by a bursary recipient about how important the award was to her, click here.

Scholarships and awards – We offer a variety of awards as follows:-

• Financial Assistance – for students requiring assistance towards the cost of starting or continuing their education
• Major Awards – for students intending to pursue a course of study associated with the Communication and Content industries.
• Francis Mathew Scholarships – for students wishing to travel whilst following a course of study associated with the Communication and Content industries.
• Prize and Scholarship Fund – for students following a course of study associated with the Communication and Content industries at FE Colleges and Universities.

The Stationers' Foundation Saturday Schools 

The Foundation funds two Saturday Schools for disadvantaged children in London. The classes aim to help primary school children reach their full academic potential. Fifty children attend the schools in Kings Cross and Somers Town. These children’s families cannot afford private tutors to supplement their education and as a result, many are falling behind. Based in the heart of communities, experienced teachers deliver traditional lessons in English and Maths.

For more information, click here.

Shine School Media Awards

The Foundation is pleased to be a main sponsor and organiser of the Shine Schools Media Project, a competition for the best schools’ media piece.

To learn more click here.

Schools Support 

The Foundation supports Stationers' Crown Woods Academy in many ways including through the provision of equipment alongside the mentoring and other support provided by the Stationers' Company.

Welfare 

The Foundation’s welfare activity is the provision of annual or one-off grants of money and other support to persons in need, hardship or distress who work or have worked in the Communication and Content industries and their dependants. For more information, click here.

Charity Giving 

The Foundation makes regular contributions to charities in the City of London and beyond including support for the Lord Mayor of London’s charities and the Royal Marines. 

The Foundation is also proud to contribute to Bound by Veterans, to help fund bookbinding qualifications for ex-Servicemen and women discharged early from the Service because of their wounds, injuries or sickness.  For more information click here and click here.

Library and Archive 

The Company's Library and Archive are important historical resources and are administered through a specific fund.  The provision and administration of the fund were transferred from The Stationers' Foundation to Stationers' Hall Charity in 2018.  To learn more about the Library & Archive, click here.