Tower Hamlets Summer University (THSU) is a British

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 charity

Charitable organization

A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...

 in the Tower Hamlets

London Borough of Tower Hamlets

The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a London borough to the east of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It is in the eastern part of London and covers much of the traditional East End. It also includes much of the redeveloped Docklands region of London, including West India Docks...

 area of London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

 which offers independent learning programs for people from 11 to 25 years of age. It rebranded to the name Futureversity in 2010.

Holiday courses for young people

THSU runs short courses, typically two to five days long on a non-residential basis, are provided free of charge to young people aged 11 to 25 across the borough of Tower Hamlets

London Borough of Tower Hamlets

The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a London borough to the east of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It is in the eastern part of London and covers much of the traditional East End. It also includes much of the redeveloped Docklands region of London, including West India Docks...

 during school holidays. Courses cover such subjects as Careers in the City, The Trading Floor, Photography

Photography

Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...

, Driving Theory, First Aid

First aid

First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care...

, Maths without Calculators, Jewellery Design and Making, Bollywood Dance, Film Making, Kick & Thai Boxing, Cricket, Tourism and Psychology.

Summer Uni London

Summer Uni London was a project commissioned to THSU by the Department for Education and Skills to develop other Summer Unis across London through training, support and resources.

Youth Volunteering

THSU promotes youth volunteering including (but not limited to) participating in the Nang!

Nang!

Nang! is a general interest magazine based in Aldgate, London. Aimed at 14-21 year olds, the magazine is free and is distributed at sixth forms, colleges, universities, libraries and Connexions centres in the London area on a quarterly basis...

project, as a Summer Uni Peer, or by joining FAB.

Summer Uni Peers

Up to 40 volunteers (aged 16–25) volunteer to support the holiday programmes as Peer Motivators or Team Leaders.

FAB (Futureversity Advisory Board)

The trustee board is informed by a Youth Advisory Group who represent the views of young people to the board. Two young people from this group also sit on the board of trustees.

History

Tower Hamlets Summer University was piloted in 1995 to help reduce youth crime in the borough during the summer holiday period. Since then, the charity has grown and inspired many other boroughs to pilot Summer Unis in London and across the UK

1993

In 1993, Lord Young of Dartington commissioned a research project to find out why youth crime increased each summer. The research concluded with a number of recommendations regarding summer provision for young people in the borough.

1995

In 1995, the Education Business Partnership and the borough invested time and money in piloting a programme of activities for 14-21 year olds. This blue-print for Summer Uni was thoroughly documented with all results published in the autumn.

1996

In 1996, two senior workers from the youth and arts sector (David Holloway OBE and Elizabeth Lynch)were seconded from the borough to establish the Summer Uni programme. It was registered as a charity and company limited by guarantee ("Tower Hamlets Summer Education Ltd") in February of that year.

This pilot was additionally the blue print for the University of the First Age in 1996.

Late 1990s

By 1997, Hackney, Brent, Newham, Islington and Southwark piloted their own programmes and in the next two years, other boroughs and other areas of the country followed suit. Funding from the Lottery and the New Opportunities Fund helped this momentum.

2006

In 2006, Lord Andrew Adonis and the London Challenge team (part of the Department for Education and Skills) commissioned Tower Hamlets Summer University to roll out the model to every London borough. The young participants of Tower Hamlets Summer University chose to call this project 'Summer Uni London'. Summer Uni London was launched in June 2006.

2010

In 2010, THSU and Summer Uni London rebranded as Futureversity to help represent the nation-wide expansion goals of the charity.

External links

• Futureversity Official site.