Who We Are

TIMELINE

MARCH 2020

A team of teachers and I, began a free online tuition service during the height of Covid, to support disadvantaged students. We were funded by The Tobun Foundation

APRIL 2021

We delivered over 500 hours of FREE tuition in a year and proudly named our service AA Educates and registered as a community interest company.

JULY 2021

We became certified members of Social Enterprise UK

NOVEMBER 2021

We created our first school partnership with Gladesmore Community school and Bede’s Independent school to pilot our programme, supporting disadvantaged high achievers

JANUARY 2022

We organised a very successful school swap. We took 10 state school students to experience education in an independent school

FEBRUARY 2022

Our founder was named one of the top 100 women by NatWest WISE100; who recognised her as one of the most inspiring and influential women in social enterprise, impact investment and mission-driven business

JULY 2022

End of programme experience – We partnered with The Founders Club to host 10 students at The Wolseley in Mayfair, where they enjoyed a high-end breakfast and an inspirational talk from two successful entrepreneurs

SEPTEMBER 2022

We renewed contracts with both Gladesmore and Bede’s

NOVEMBER 2022

We partnered with West Norwood Library and were given our own space to provide disadvantaged students in the local area with free tuition and mentorship, ultimately serving four secondary schools

DECEMBER 2022

We partnered with 400 Rabbits, who provide freshly baked pizzas for our students, during tuition and mentoring sessions at the library

JANUARY 2023

Our founder was named top 100 UK female entrepreneurs by #ialso who celebrate the dynamic and inspirational businesses led by women in the UK

JANUARY 2023

We partnered with The Elm Green School, to run our second pilot, measuring impact, collecting quantitative data and analysing programme efficiency. We support sixteen disadvantaged high achievers

FEBRUARY 2023

We were shortlisted for the Fair Education Alliance Innovation award

APRIL 2023

We were featured in the Voice Business Magazines

JUNE 2023

AA Educates was listed in the top 100 most impactful social enterprises by NatWest WISE100

AUGUST 2023

We receive on-going support and funding from Bentley Motors

SEPTEMBER 2023

We partnered with and received funding from Mace, a global construction company, who worked on The Shard.

Introducing Andrine Allen, the passionate and dedicated founder of our organisation. With over a decade of experience as a fully qualified teacher in inner-London state schools, Andrine's commitment is unparalleled.

Her exceptional work and unwavering dedication to education have not gone unnoticed. She was recently acknowledged as one of the most inspiring and influential women in social enterprise, impact investment, and mission-driven business. Andrine was proudly included in NatWest WISE100, a prestigious organisation's list of top 100 women. This recognition is a testament to her leadership and her positive impact on countless lives.

However, Andrine's journey to success was not always straightforward.

From a young age, Andrine recognised her academic gifts and potential, yet unfortunately, they went unnoticed by others. Despite her ambition for success, she lacked guidance and direction. A disheartening work experience placement at the age of 15 only deepened her uncertainty about the future.

Although she left school with 9 A-C GCSEs and a reservoir of untapped potential, Andrine did not have a clear path forward. While navigating through various jobs and facing the challenges of early motherhood, she found herself in a small mother-and-baby unit, reluctantly accepting what seemed like an inevitable foregone conclusion.

A turning point came when a dear friend, who shared Andrine's academic gifts and potential, tragically took their own life. Deeply affected by this loss, Andrine realised that she had to seize the opportunities her friend could no longer pursue. Motivated by their memory, she took control of her destiny.

Andrine's resilience and self-motivation led her to enrol in college and become the first person in her family to attend university. During this transformative journey, she discovered her true calling: to become a teacher and impact the lives of students like herself, who possessed ability but lacked opportunity.

Driven by her own experiences and a deep belief in every young person's potential, Andrine took on a new challenge during the Covid pandemic. She led a team of teachers and established a free tuition and mentoring service to support disadvantaged students. This initiative received valuable support from The Tobun Foundation and Lambeth Council, enabling them to reach even more young minds in need.

Andrine's journey continues with a clear purpose; to ensure that young people do not have to endure the emptiness that comes with a yearning for a better future. Her leadership, unwavering passion, and tireless efforts continue to transform lives.