Rod Aldridge established the Aldridge Foundation in 2006 to further the work of his charitable trust. The Aldridge Foundation uses entrepreneurship as the catalyst for creating lasting social change for young people and their communities, by empowering young people to direct their own lives, raise their aspirations and change their future for the better, creating opportunities for young people that develop skills and assist them to achieve excellence, and building new partnerships and challenging current structures, thus enabling young people to realise their potential.
The focus is delivering a number of high profile activities in London, Darwen, Falmer, Salford and Birmingham. All of these promote the ideals of the Foundation, and the small, dedicated team support Rod in his roles, including as the Sponsor of two City Academies.
Rod was elected fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2006. He was awarded an OBE in the 1994 New Years Honours List for services to the computer industry, and was given the freedom of the City of London in 1996. He is on the Court of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists.
Rod is also Chair of ‘v’- the charity launched in May 2006 which aims to inspire and engage over one million new youth volunteers, and in January 2007, was appointed Chairman of The Lowry, the theatre and arts venue in Salford. He is also a patron of the Prince’s Trust.
He is a regular speaker at conferences and is a contributor to the debate on public service reform, user voice and youth engagement.
For further information, visit www.aldridgefoundation.com
Achievements Board - 2011
November
BACA won the e-Teach Academy Development Award at the Education Business Awards 2011. The award reflected the sound project management and procurement strategies that led to the new BACA building being completed on time.The Aldridge Academies and Enabling Enterprise jointly run competition was awarded High Impact Status for Global Entrepreneurship Week.Rod Aldridge picked up the award for an Outstanding Contribution by an Individual, at the EducationInvestor Awards 2011.
Elizabeth Anderson, our Head of Foundation Affairs and Executive Assistant to Chairman won the Women of the Future in Public Service Award 2011, at the awards run by Real Business - the first ever winner of that category.
October
Six BACA students completed a trip to Pune and Mumbai, visiting a range of schools and community programmes.Congratulations to Jean-Pierre van Wyk, winner of the Foundation's Christmas Card Competition - his design will be used this year on the Foundation's cards.
The Foundation celebrated its Fifth Anniversary with a party at the Household Cavalry Museum in Whitehall.September
BACA moved into its brand new £23m home, celebrating with a community focussed opening. A time-capsule was buried to mark the historic occasion.PACA opened its doors for the first time as an Academy, specialising in Entrepreneurship and Science.The Foundation has secured £9,920 from the Big Lottery Fund 'Awards for All' programme, which will be used for Pegasus FM, a community radio station based initially at BACA.
August
For a second year, the Darwen Aldridge Community Academy also recorded another increase in their GCSE results, with 56% of students securing five or more GCSEs at A*-C Grade, including English and Maths.At BACA, 36% of students secured 5 or more GCSEs at Grades A*-C, including English and Maths, a 64% increase from the previous year, at the then Falmer High School. 73% of students secured five or more GCSEs overall at A*-C, again, up from 58% the previous year. 17 DACA students received a place at University - each being the first in their family to carry on to Higher Education.Darwen Aldridge Community Academy (DACA) Sixth Form celebrated record-breaking A Level results - a 98% pass rate, with a quarter of the results at A* and A grades, and 36% of the results at A*, A and B grades.
July
In EducationInvestor Awards 2011, The Aldridge Foundation shortlisted as Schools Operating Group of the Year, Darwen Aldridge Community Academy shortlisted for Academy of the Year, and Rod Aldridge shortlisted for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual.BACA has outstanding celebration with STOMP.
June
Well done to Molly Holden (winner) and Luke Allen (second place) who won our Alex Rider Short Story Award, presented by Anthony Horowitz at DACA.Aldridge Foundation declared Winner of BCSE Academy Sponsor of the Year.Joe McInerney, Foundation's 'My Life is My Business' project alumni, named Oustanding Achiever of the Year in Lancashire.
April
DACA delighted to receive royal visit from HRH Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton.Congratulations to Jessica Dootson, winner of our 2011 Pegasus Literacy Award, presented by Catherine Middleton.DACA new building shortlisted for RIBA North West Design AwardsCongratuatlions to BACA students who won entrepreneurship award at Brighton University
March
DACA awarded as one of the country's most improved schools by SSAT February
The Aldridge Foundation receives grant of £150,000 to develop community entrepreneurship work - The Aldridge Pioneers.