For 45 years, Harington has helped young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to grow, thrive, and find independence through specialist training, personal support, and meaningful work. Our work transforms lives—and strengthens the future of diversity and inclusion across London.
But today, Harington’s roots are under strain. Government funding, provides a basic amount for every student. At Harington, it is essential to our teaching model that our classes are kept small. This means that every young person gets the individualised support they need, but the cost of providing high-quality teaching is far higher than this funding allows. The result is a significant shortfall—one that threatens the future of our programmes if we cannot fill the gap.
That’s why we are launching Root for Harington, our 2025/26 campaign to raise £250,000. Every pound will go directly towards sustaining our unique training model: keeping class sizes small, employing specialist teachers and support staff, and maintaining the personalised approach that helps our students flourish.
You can help protect Harington’s roots. By donating, fundraising, or sharing our campaign, you’ll ensure that young people with SEND continue to access the education and opportunities they deserve.
You can donate securely and directly to our Root for Harington campaign via Zeffy.
How your support could help
- £25 – could help provide learning materials and tools that bring lessons to life.
- £100 – could fund a day of specialist teaching for a small group of students.
- £500 – could support a student’s confidence and employability through a week of tailored teaching and wellbeing activities.
- £1,000+ – could help fund a full week of learning and job-readiness training for one student — including classroom teaching, work placement support and wellbeing coaching.
If you’d like to fundraise for us, explore other ways to donate, or simply find out more, please contact Senior Fundraising and Marketing Officer, Yasmin on yasmin.daveycorrigan@harington.org.uk.
FAQ’s
Q: Why is this an issue now, and why are you launching a fundraising campaign?
A: Over the past few years, the wider financial environment has become much tougher for almost every organisation in our sector. Rising costs, the impact of inflation, and delays in local authority payments have all created pressure. At the same time, national funding for specialist education hasn’t kept pace with what it actually costs to deliver Harington’s small-group, high-support model.
These challenges have built up gradually — they’re not the result of any one decision or event. We’ve always relied on the generosity of supporters, but recent years have brought new financial pressures. Our costs have risen while fundraising income and public funding have fallen behind.
The Root for Harington campaign is our way of asking the wider community to stand with us — to help bridge the gap and protect the unique, high-quality support Harington provides. Every gift, large or small, helps safeguard our teaching model and ensures we can continue offering opportunities to those who need them most.
Q: Where will my money go?
A: Every pound donated goes directly towards sustaining Harington’s work — helping young people with learning difficulties gain the skills, confidence, and independence they need for life and work.
That includes funding for teaching, student support, work placements, and our social enterprises such as Harington Gardeners and our charity shops that provide real-world learning opportunities.
Of course, some of this also contributes to essential running costs like staff and facilities — because without teachers, classrooms, and safe spaces, none of our work could happen. We’re committed to using all funds responsibly and transparently, ensuring that every contribution helps our students thrive.
Q: What steps are you taking to ensure financial sustainability?
A: We are exploring a variety of solutions to improve our financial position. This includes:
- Strengthening our fundraising efforts and expanding income streams.
- Negotiating fairer funding arrangements with local authorities.
- Reviewing our internal operations to ensure efficiency and sustainability, focusing on making informed decisions rather than cutting costs for the sake of it.
Q: Is Harington going to close if you don’t make this target?
A: No. Harington is not in immediate crisis, and we are taking careful, proactive steps to strengthen our financial position.
The fundraising campaign is part of a wider plan that includes building new income streams, negotiating fairer funding with local authorities, and reviewing how we work to stay sustainable for the future.
The money raised will make a vital difference — helping us close the funding gap and giving us the stability to keep supporting our students for years to come — but Harington is not at risk of closing.
Q: How can I stay updated on Harington’s progress?
A: We will continue to provide regular updates through email newsletters, the website, and social media. If you would like to sign up to our mailing list, find out more, or ask any questions, please contact Yasmin at Yasmin.daveycorrigan@harington.org.ukto find out how you can stay informed and engaged.
Q: Can I do more than donate?
A: Absolutely! You can help Harington by spreading the word, sharing the campaign with friends and family, taking part in our fundraising activities, running your own, or volunteering your time to support events and initiatives. Every action, big or small, makes a difference — and the more people get involved, the stronger our impact. Your support helps us grow, reach more people, and keep the campaign moving forward.