In a quiet Central London studio space, an art class is in full flow. Paint brushes and oil pastels are being drawn across paper and canvas and beautiful combinations of colour brought to life. Art is being made. And it is being made by a group of people who are largely ex-prisoners, supported through charity 2Makeit’s creative rehabilitation programmes. 

In 2017, the Goldsmiths’ Company Charity became a founding partner of the new London Museum, pledging a donation of £10m that would go towards the museum’s plans to create a spectacular new home for the history of London and its people in the beautiful and historic market buildings of Smithfield. This year, the Charity made the first of three payments honouring this pledge.

A career in the City of London can seem a daunting and perhaps unattainable prospect, particularly for those who cannot see people of their gender or socio-economic background fully represented. The Lord Mayor’s Appeal is working to change that by creating ‘A Better City for All’–one that is inclusive, healthy, skilled and fair.

Cambourne Village College, Cambridge has been awarded a Gold Medal, and Fir Vale School, Sheffield a Silver Medal, in the finals of the 2024 Goldsmiths’ Awards for Community Engagement.

For International Women's Day 2024 we spoke with former prisoner Jules Rowan about her experience with The Prison Radio Association - the world’s first national radio station for people in prison - and her role as co-host of the Life After Prison podcast, which offers advice, inspiration, information, support and entertainment to people who have experienced prison and the criminal justice system.

“When I first came to prison, I was about eight weeks pregnant with my third baby and absolutely petrified. Throughout my pregnancy, Birth Companions were fantastic. They were there throughout my labour and were like angels in disguise.”

“Many of us associate Cornwall with surfing, ice cream and gorgeous beaches,” says Alison Tebbs, Project Manager of the First Words Together project. “But there are also huge amounts of poverty in the areas where tourists don’t go.”

The Goldsmiths' Company Charity is delighted to announce the first four recipients of its new £10m Landmark Grants Programme – designed to accelerate skills development in the UK – Aston University Engineering Academy, National Literacy Trust, St Giles, and St. Paul’s Cathedral, who will each receive grants of £500,000 towards their projects.

"Story-Led Resilience™" is the unique practice adopted by Blackpool Grand's Tales Retold project, which sees children critically analyse theatre, to learn from the characters' own resilient traits.

For International Women's Day 2023 we spoke with prison officer Ellen Larby about her experience with Unlocked Graduates - a programme that aims to end the reoffending cycle by training exceptional people as frontline prison officers.

“National Prison Radio generates a real sense of community, not just within prisons, but also across prisons,” says Evie Dickinson.

Spark Inside’s award-winning 'Hero's Journey' coaching programme combats reoffending by empowering young prisoners.

The Goldsmiths’ Company Charity is delighted to announce its new charitable partnerships for the new year. Focusing on the rehabilitation and resettlement of prisoners, these organisations either provide support inside prisons, or offer rehabilitation initiatives to those who have left incarceration.

The Goldsmiths’ Company Charity has issued multiple cost-of-living grants to charities and apprentices within the trade to support them during this difficult period, using the remainder of the funds from its Covid-19 Fund.

For International Women's Day 2022 writer Fiona Thompson reflects on the vital work of Goldsmiths' Company Charity Grantees: Anawim Women's Centre, Birmingham

In 2017 the London Museum and the Goldsmiths’ Company Charity announced that the Charity had become a Founding Partner of the new museum, in Smithfield. The landmark donation of £10million will goes towards the Museum’s plans to create a spectacular new home for the history of London and its people in the beautiful but disused market buildings at West Smithfield.