Turning Pages, Changing Lives: an inspirational evening in Manchester

Against the inspiring backdrop of Manchester Art Gallery, SHINE recently welcomed teachers, supporters, funders and partners for an evening dedicated to one of the most powerful tools for transforming young lives: reading.

The event, Turning Pages, Changing Lives: How SHINE is Unlocking Futures Through Reading, brought together people who share a belief that every child deserves the chance to succeed, regardless of their background.

It was an opportunity to celebrate progress, reflect on the challenges facing education, and explore how innovation, evidence and partnership can help create brighter futures for children across the North of England.

Opening the evening, SHINE founding Trustee and economist Jim O’Neill reflected on the organisation’s journey over the past 25 years and the role that philanthropy can play in transforming education.

He spoke about the need for funding that goes beyond supporting existing activity, instead creating the space for innovation, experimentation and growth. By backing promising ideas and helping successful approaches reach more children, philanthropy can become a powerful force for systemic change.

Jim highlighted the importance of ensuring that resources are directed where they can have the greatest impact, helping schools, teachers and organisations work together to tackle educational disadvantage and unlock the potential of young people across the country.

The conversation then turned to the realities facing schools today. Jonny Uttley, SHINE Trustee and former chief executive of The Education Alliance in Yorkshire, drew on more than two decades of experience in education to describe the pressures schools are navigating. Financial challenges, workforce pressures and increasing demands on schools, he noted, can leave little room for innovation.

Yet innovation remains essential. Jonny emphasised the importance of creating space for schools to test new ideas, evaluate what works and continually improve outcomes for children. He highlighted SHINE’s unique role in supporting evidence-informed innovation and helping schools move beyond simply maintaining the status quo towards achieving meaningful progress for disadvantaged pupils.

The evening’s final address came from Raksha Pattni, Chair of SHINE, who focused on the transformative power of reading and the central role teachers play in driving educational change.

Raksha spoke about SHINE’s growing impact across the North of England, where projects supported by the charity reached more than 100,000 children in the past year alone. She also highlighted SHINE’s work in places such as Sunderland, Bradford and Hartlepool, where schools, local leaders and communities are working together to create sustainable improvements in educational outcomes.

With the National Year of Reading 2026 helping to focus attention on literacy, Raksha explored why reading remains one of the most important foundations for a child’s future success. Reading opens doors to learning, broadens horizons and helps children develop the confidence to imagine futures beyond their immediate circumstances.

A particularly moving moment came through the story of Louise, whose experience learning to read through a SHINE programme demonstrated the life-changing difference that targeted support can make. Her story served as a powerful reminder that behind every programme and intervention are individual children whose opportunities can be transformed through effective teaching and timely support.

 

Throughout her remarks, Raksha paid tribute to the teachers whose ideas and commitment lie at the heart of SHINE’s work. Teachers see first-hand the barriers facing their pupils and are often best placed to develop innovative solutions. However, too many promising ideas never progress beyond a single classroom because schools lack the resources, time or support to test and scale them.

That is where SHINE’s work has made a difference for the past quarter century. By identifying, funding and evaluating promising approaches developed by teachers and school leaders, the charity helps turn innovative ideas into evidence-backed programmes capable of reaching thousands of children.

As the evening drew to a close, there was a strong sense of shared purpose among everyone gathered at the art gallery. While the challenges facing education remain significant, the event highlighted the collective determination of educators, funders, partners and supporters to create opportunities for children who need them most.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at Manchester Art Gallery, including the teachers, supporters, funders, partners and friends of SHINE who continue to champion educational opportunity across the North of England.

The evening demonstrated the strength of the community working together to improve outcomes for children and young people. Through collaboration, innovation and a shared commitment to tackling educational disadvantage, we can continue to unlock potential, support great ideas and create lasting change.