PRESS RELEASE: Goldsmiths’ Company and National Saturday Club partner to reach more young people with free Art&Design Clubs nationwide

Founded in 2009, the National Saturday Club gives 13 to 16-year-olds a unique opportunity to study subjects they love, for free at their local university, college, and cultural institution. This national network works together in partnership to deliver enriching extracurricular activities, with a focus on reaching young people from underserved and underrepresented communities. Offering dynamic creative learning programmes in eight subject areas, the Club works to develop young people’s skills, nurture their talents and encourage their creativity.

In alignment with the Goldsmiths’ Foundation’s aims of advancing creative, technical, and vocational skills, education and training in the creative sector, the Goldsmiths’ Company has partnered with the National Saturday Club to sustain and support the reach of its Art& Design programme, committing to providing significant funding for the programme by raising donations from its members over the next three years.

A report jointly published by organisations including the Design Council and Design & Technology Association in the summer of 2024, found that the number of pupils studying Design & Technology at GCSE had fallen by 68% in the last decade following its removal as a compulsory subject, with businesses across the creative sector expressing concern about the future of home-grown skills and creativity. 

Through complementary extracurricular activities like the National Saturday Club, this emerging gap in creative, technical, and vocational skills can be met. 

Lucy Kennedy, Chief Executive of the National Saturday Club, said: “We are deeply grateful to the Goldsmiths’ Company for their generous support of the National Saturday Club’s Art&Design programme. Their commitment helps us provide young people across the UK with the space to explore their creativity, build confidence, and imagine new futures. Art and design span every aspect of the creative industries, and we are especially appreciative of partners like the Goldsmiths’ Company who recognise the long-term value of nurturing creative talent, not only for their own sector, but for society at large. 

“This partnership will strengthen our work in communities nationwide: supporting young people locally, while helping to build a future-facing, inclusive creative talent pipeline at national scale. Crucially, it forms part of a growing movement uniting Further Education, Higher Education, industry and the cultural sector to champion opportunity, unlock potential, and ensure that every young person can access the power of creative education.”

Speaking about the partnership, Annie Warburton, CEO and Clerk of the Goldsmiths’ Company said, “Our partnership is rooted in a shared ambition to equip young people with skills and connections to thrive in future careers in the creative industries, and beyond. We are excited by the opportunity to support the sustainability and growth of the Art&Design programme over the next three years, with the generous support of Goldsmiths' Company members – reaching more young people, in more communities, across the UK. Together, we aim to spark curiosity and inspire experimentation and exploration by nurturing creative skills and design thinking – crafting careers for the next generation.”

Art&Design Saturday Clubs encourage their members to explore design-led thinking, experiment with creative problem solving, and develop transferable technical skills that can form the foundation for a diverse range of careers in the UK’s creative sector, from architecture to jewellery design and graphics to sculpture. A core offering of the national programme is access to the annual programme of events which include specially arranged visits to leading cultural institutions and Masterclasses with industry. The Goldsmiths’ Company is well placed to connect young people with creative professionals from a diverse range of artistic practices.

“The Club helped me to develop and hone my skills and gave me real insight into the creative industries and the potential there was for me. Using professional equipment made me feel that anything was possible, and working with dedicated creative professionals gave me the confidence to think big. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life and I wouldn’t be where I am without it. " - Ben Lintell, National Saturday Club alum

“The Saturday Club exposed us to things that you don’t usually come across. It was really valuable because every week we would do a different art form or skill which enabled us to try lots of different things and consequently gave us a lot of confidence.” - Abigail and Chloe Baldwin, Buttercrumble, National Saturday Club alumni 

About the National Saturday Club 

The National Saturday Club gives 13–16-year-olds nationwide a unique opportunity to study subjects they love for free, on a Saturday at their local university, college or cultural institution. With a particular focus on engaging young people from under-represented backgrounds, the National Saturday Club’s established model has proven impact. The programme offers a transformational opportunity to build versatile and creative skills, develop confidence and discover pathways to further study and future careers. A remarkable national network of further education, higher education, the cultural sector, and industry works together in partnership to deliver these enriching extracurricular activities.  

About Goldsmiths’ Company  

The Goldsmiths’ Company is a cultural institution and membership organisation – one of the Great Twelve City of London Livery Companies. The Company advances the trade and craft of silversmithing and jewellery through training, exhibitions and fairs, operates the London Assay Office which protects the trade and consumers by testing and hallmarking precious metals, and works with charitable, educational, and cultural partners to improve life chances for people.

Established in 1327 and now with over 1500 active members the Company has contributed to national life for eight centuries. In 2027, we will celebrate our 700th anniversary.  

The Goldsmiths’ ‘group’ includes the Goldsmiths’ Company and:  

• London Assay Office: protects consumers and the trade by testing and hallmarking precious metals. 

• Goldsmiths’ Foundation: a philanthropic organisation and grand funding charity that supports vocational skills, education and training in the creative industries. 

• The Goldsmiths’ Centre: a charity that supports jewellers and silversmiths and those in the allied trades by delivering education and training programmes and professional development, and through exhibitions and fairs. It was founded by the Company in 2012 and receives an annual grant of circa £2m a year from the Goldsmiths’ Foundation.