A Birmingham businesswoman and entrepreneur has secured a partnership with the John Lewis Partnership which sees the organisation sponsoring her acclaimed ‘Little Chicks Life Lessons’ education programme, as part of its commitment to young people and care leavers.

Little Chicks Life Lessons, founded by Midlands businesswoman Alison Delaney, is a ground-breaking education initiative for UK Primary Schools, focused on building confidence, self-belief, resilience and financial awareness in children and teachers alike.  Through educational storytelling and engagement, children are given the tools and space to explore and develop their dreams and aspirations, to identify the unique and special qualities they possess to be the best they can be, and to increase the understanding of saving and healthy financial habits.

The sponsorship by the John Lewis Partnership will ensure that the ‘Little Chicks Life Lessons’ education programme will be delivered across a number of primary schools in the West Midlands, including St Mathews C of E Primary School, Coppice Junior School and Woodland Infant School.  It will reach around 700 children, from 4 to 11 years old, enabling them to participate in the programme which delivers key life lessons and skills designed to help them through life, with the aim of also impacting children who have experienced the care system during childhood.

The John Lewis Partnership has recently announced a number of key initiatives and funding support for organisations that are working to make a difference for children and young people from care, one of which is ‘Little Chicks Life Lessons’. 

Alison Delaney has also been appointed to the Building Happier Futures Advisory Group which has been established by the John Lewis Partnership as part of its longer-term commitment to driving change and unlocking the potential of children and young people who have been in care. 

Alison Delaney said, "The ‘Little Chicks Life Lessons’ education programme is a valuable tool for organisations looking to maximise and deliver meaningful social value impact through community engagement and I am delighted that the John Lewis Partnership has come on board as a key sponsor. With their funding and support we can ensure that we deliver our programme to more UK schools and meaningfully impact the lives of children who need this dedicated support.  

“I am incredibly honoured to have been appointed to the Building Happier Futures Advisory Group formed by the John Lewis Partnership to guide their work in improving the opportunities for children who have grown up in care and supporting them to build happier futures.

“Having been adopted as a child at 3 months old and having supported over 10,000 children and teachers both in the UK and Africa through my education programmes, I have seen first-hand the positive impact on young people when they are given the right support, tools and opportunities to thrive.”   

Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, Dame Sharon White, said: “Children and young people whose childhoods were spent in care face profound challenges. Young people who are care experienced are more likely to be made homeless than to go to university. Thousands of young people with potential are being overlooked in the national conversation and that urgently needs to change.”

Charlotte Lock, Pan-Partnership Customer Director of The John Lewis Partnership, said:

“Our new Building Happier Futures care leavers programme is rooted in equality of opportunity and our belief that every child and young person deserves a fair start in life. Part of our programme will involve working with a number of key partners and organisations to collectively push for better outcomes for young people and address some of the challenges faced by children as they come out of the care system. 

“Developing the confidence and skills of young people at a key time in their lives, when they are known to learn and develop more quickly, is hugely important.  So, we are really pleased to be working with Little Bird People Development to fund the delivery of the ‘Little Chicks Life Lessons’ education programme to 700 primary school children in the Solihull borough, and providing essential building blocks for happier futures.                      

“I am delighted that Alison Delaney is one of the voices on our newly formed Advisory Group who will help to ensure that our Building Happier Futures programme delivers on its objectives and makes a real difference to the future prospects of young people and care leavers.”