High School community partnerships
ASL provides students with many opportunities to take action in our community, helping students gain deeper understanding of our local and global communities, and discover new aspects of themselves, the skills they offer, and the impact they can have.
- About the program
- Season and registration dates
- Partnership descriptions
- Attendance Policy
- Other leadership opportunities
About the program
Winter timetable
Community partnerships are the core of our high school program. The partnerships give students the opportunity to work after school directly with people from the broader London community. Programs take place in a variety of settings—including youth centers, schools, playgrounds, shelters, and senior citizen centers—and give students the chance to work with people in a wide range of circumstances.
Commitment
The community partnerships program is aligned with our athletic seasons. Partnerships take place once a week after school for two hours. Students travel to and from the partnership as a group along with their partnership coach (an ASL faculty/staff member). Students commit to one season at a time.
Attendance
As with all high school commitments, we take attendance seriously. Students with repeated or unexcused absences are asked to step down from the program.
Assessment
At the end of each semester, advisors, deans and college counselor receive an assessment of their students’ performance in the program, which they may share with parents and students.
Consent form
After registration, parents will be emailed a link to an online consent form which they will be asked to submit before the first meeting of the season.
Transportation
Students are accompanied to each site by a member of staff. Depending on the site location, students will walk, take a bus or school van, or underground train to the site. Students are then invited to return to ASL with a teacher or in ASL approved transport, or, with parental consent, are permitted to make their own way home directly from the site.
Orientation
After school on the first day of each season, an orientation meeting takes place in O-320, O-321 and O-322 in the High School.
Reflection
Group reflection is a key part of the learning associated with the program. It is integrated into the daily sessions by coaches.
Season and registration dates
Community partnerships follow the school athletic season calendar. Students register for one athletic season at a time, enabling them to alternate between partnerships and sports participation.
Fall Season
Registration begins: Friday, 5 September, 8.10am outside the HS office
Registration closes: Tuesday, 9 September, 12pm
Programs commence: w/c Monday, 15 September
Fall season concludes: Friday, 14 November
Winter Season
Registration opens: Tuesday, 11 November, 8:10 am outside HS Office.
Registration closes: Friday, 14 November
Season begins: Monday, 17 November
Last partnership meeting before Thanksgiving break: Monday, 24, November
Last partnership meeting before Winter break Thursday, 11 December
Partnerships resume: Monday, 12 January
Winter season ends: Thursday, 12 March
Spring Season
Registration opens: Tuesday, 17 March, 8:10am
Registration closes: Thursday, 19 March
Season begins: Monday, 30 March
Spring season ends: Thursday, 28 May
Note: In spring season Monday partnerships are not open to Grades 11/12
During AP Exam weeks we will run a reduced schedule.
Partnership descriptions
- Adventure Play Hub (formerly the Adventure Playground)
- Bloomsbury Bears Football (not offered during spring season)
- Dance Squad at Barrow Hill (not offered during spring season)
- Doorstep Homeless Families Project
- Englands Lane Family Support
- Hampstead Court Elder Care
- PACE for ALL
- Homework buddy program
- Loveday Elder Project
- Propose your own!
- Robotics Outreach Program
- Rugby Portobello Trust
- SHINE (Not offered during the spring season)
- The Winchester Project
- Harris Academy Coding Club
- youngPOWER Leadership Team (not offered during spring season)
- Young Readers Society (not offered during spring season)
Adventure Play Hub (formerly the Adventure Playground)
This partnership runs popular after-school programs for local primary-age children. It has an indoor area for arts, crafts, music and table tennis, and outdoor space for basketball and gardening.
Volunteers develop arts and crafts, sports and play projects, as well as serve snacks, and act as buddies to the younger children.
Learn more about Adventure Play Hub.
Coaches
| Monday | Tuesday | Thursday |
| Robyn Zellar | Amy Purdon |
Robyn Zellar |
Bloomsbury Bears Football (not offered during spring season)
Dance Squad at Barrow Hill (not offered during spring season)
Barrow Hill Junior School is located nearby in St. John's Wood. In the past, ASL students have run an after-school dance club called "Dance Squad" for a group of 20 very excited students aged 7-10. With the graduation of the previous student leaders, we are now looking to renew this program. If you are interested in helping to move it forward please write to Mr. Block.
Coach
Joy Xu (Thursday)
Doorstep Homeless Families Project
Doorstep improves the lives of families who are living in temporary accommodation after losing their homes.
ASL students work in Doorstep’s after-school program, providing homework help, playing games and managing arts and crafts activities. It’s a busy, energetic, warm and welcoming environment.
Coaches
| Tuesday | Thursday |
| Ruksana Murtaza | Ina Chhabra |
Englands Lane Family Support
Want to gain a deeper understanding of how to help young children develop and grow? In this new program you will play with toddlers through the Winch's SPLAT program at England's Lane. This is a limited opportunity for students with a real passion for child development. If you are interested in this program, please write to Mr. Block brandon_block@asl.org
Hampstead Court Elder Care
The Hampstead Court community partnership is a new opportunity for High School students to engage with older people in the community. Students will go once a week to share in fun activities with residents at The Hampstead Court Care Home, a specialist care home that supports residents with dementia and Altzymers. Students will make strong connections with residents as they share stories and learn from one another. Also, through debrief discussions and dementia training, They will learn to understand some of the challenges faced by those who suffer from dementia and the people who care for them. This partnership is fun, informative, and enriching for both our students and the Hampstead Court residents.
NOTE: This is primarily a Middle School programme; High Schoolers will serve as leaders helping Middle Schoolers to get the most from their experience. Spaces available will depend on Middle School takeup.
Coach: Sean Ross
PACE for ALL
Since we launched at PACE last year, this has quickly grown into one of our most popular partnerships. PACE runs great after-school programs for students from the Fortune Green area. Their center features two large indoor huts, where there is always a great arts and crafts activity taking place, a garden, a really nice football pitch, and a fun playground. The young people attending are warm and welcoming and love having ASL buddies visit. Fortune Green is located out the Finchley Road just north of West Hampstead.
Due to student demand this year, we are adding a program at a second PACE site: PACE Fairfield, located in the heart of Camden. Like Fortune Green, it includes an indoor play area loaded with arts activities and a large outdoor play space. PACE Fairfield is eager to welcome us and grateful for our students' support.
Coaches
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | |
|
Sana Shafqat (Fairfield, Camden) |
Louisa Avery (Fairfield, Camden) | Brandon Avery (Fairfield, Camden) | Sean Ross (Fairfield) Travis Schill (Fortune Green) |
Homework buddy program
Loveday Elder Project
The LoveDay community partnership is a new opportunity for High School students to engage with older people in the community. Students will go once a week to share in fun activities with residents at Loveday, a bespoke care home that specialises in dementia and Altzymers. Students will make strong connections with residents as they share stories and learn from one and other. Also through debrief discussions and dementia training will learn to understand some of the challenges faced by those who suffer from dementia and the people who care for them. This partnership is fun, informative and enriching for both our students and the Loveday residents.
NOTE: This is primarily a Middle School programme; High Schoolers will serve as leaders helping Middle Schoolers to get the most from their experience. Spaces available will depend on Middle School takeup.
Coach: Sean Ross
Propose your own!
Many of our programs are driven by student interests and ideas. Barrow Hill Dance, Barrow Hill Sustainable Art,. Wobbletech Computer Science, West London MUN, youngPOWER, were all started by students! If you wish to develop a new program based on your passions and interests, see Mr. Block.
Community Connections Grants
Did you know you can apply for a grant of up to £1,500 to improve or extend community partnerships? Learn more. Mr. Block can help you develop your proposal.
Robotics Outreach Program
Help bring the excitement of robotics to students in local primary schools! Every week you will work with 4th and 5th graders helping them to build a robot. As they do so they will strengthen their group work and problem solving skills, while having a lot of fun! No previous robotics skills are necessary; we will teach you everything you need to know to be a great coach.
Where: Our first meetings will be at ASL while we skill up. After that we will be visiting local primary schools.
Coach: Muktar Ali
Rugby Portobello Trust
Rugby Portobello is a youth organization in Kilburn Park that helps primary-age students. It takes academic development seriously and requires all attending students to spend an hour improving their skills before taking part in recreational activities.
Rugby Portobello is a structured environment that relies heavily on volunteers, who must attend consistently. A bus is provided by ASL for volunteers for the 15-minute journey.
Monday program
Homework help for students aged 8-12
Helping with homework is rewarding but hard work. After homework help, volunteers are invited to play with students in the recreation area.
Wednesday program
Tutoring for students aged 6-8
Tutoring is hard work but incredibly rewarding. You will feel like you are making a real connection with the students and are having a positive impact on their lives. After tutoring, you will help widen students' awareness by leading an activity celebrating a different holiday or culture, or you can simply play games with the students.
(Awaiting final confirmation)
Coaches
| Monday | Wednesday |
| Laura Brown | TBC |
“Despite coming from a different background, I see myself in the kids that I tutor at Rugby Portobello. They are driven and motivated, kind-natured and humorous, and I enjoy their company during my weekly visits.”
Zubin ’15
SHINE (Not offered during the spring season)
On Saturdays, from November through March, year 8 and 9 students from across London come to ASL for an engaging and creative learning program. ASL students play a key role in SHINE, befriending participants and serving as program mentors. Students wishing to apply to be SHINE assistants must commit to attending at least three Saturday mornings during the season.
ASL students play a key role in SHINE, befriending participants and serving as their program mentors. The assistants aid visiting students in participating in arts and science explorations and use media technology to create various projects aimed at developing an understanding of how individuals and societies affect the world around them.
Students wishing to apply as SHINE assistants must commit to attending for at least three Saturday mornings. Interested? Contact Sandy Mateus or Rita Bediako by writing to shine@asl.org.
Learn more about SHINE.
The Winchester Project
The Winch is a youth organization in Swiss Cottage whose mission is to help children, regardless of their circumstances, by offering activities and support. The Winch runs an after-school program for primary school students in the local community.
The Winch encourages ASL students who are interested in running small-group projects, such as drama, to deliver sessions as part of their playgroups. Contact Brandon Block if interested.
Mentoring/play (Tuesdays/Thursdays)
Some days are spent providing homework help, while others involve arts and crafts programs, and games. Students at the Winch are creative, noisy, and fun-loving. Volunteers need to enjoy busy places!
Coaches
| Tuesday | Thursday |
| Ina Chhabra | Amy Purdon |
Harris Academy Coding Club
A group of ASL 11th graders launched Xcelero Coding Club to help address the low numbers of young people learning computer programming skills in the UK. The group works with a group of young people at Harris Academy St Johns Wood every Thursday. For more information write to Mr. Choi.
Coach:
Frederick Choi
youngPOWER Leadership Team (not offered during spring season)
Young Readers Society (not offered during spring season)
George Eliot School is located just across the street from ASL and has a diverse intake of students from ages 4-12. Two ASL sophomores have developed a new partnership reading stories to Kindergarten age students with them to promote literacy and develop a love of books. Main attributes required -- a love of little kids and reading aloud!
Coach
Karen Field
Attendance Policy
Community Partnerships Attendance Policy
Joining a Community Partnerships is both a privilege and a responsibility. We are privileged that the organizations with whom we work have chosen to welcome ASL students to their sites and entrust us with the young people with whom they work. With this privilege comes our responsibility to be fully present whilst at the site, and fully committed to our partnership. This means being there consistently for the site and for the young people with whom we work.
Attendance Expectations:
- You are expected to attend every session of the partnership you have registered for.
- You are expected to remind your teachers and parents of the commitment you have made and ensure that appointments are not scheduled during partnership meeting times.
- If you are required to attend after school study hall on partnership days, please let your Ms. Moola know that you have a partnership. Under these circumstances the study hall will be rescheduled for the following day.
- If, in extraordinary circumstances, you are required to miss a partnership, you are expected to email your partnership coach at least two days in advance. Do not simply fail to show up or depend on friends to pass along a message. If you are not sure how to reach your coach, email Mr. Block
- If you miss two or more sessions of your partnership within a season, and these are on days that you have been present in school, your coach will inform Mr. Block.* You must then see Mr. Block to discuss your absences and your continued participation in the program.
- If you are removed from the program for inconsistent attendance, your Advisor, Deans and College counselors will be informed that you have not successfully completed the activity. Conversely, when you DO successfully complete the program, your advisors, deans and college counselors are informed to celebrate your contributions.
- By participating in the program you indicate your agreement to the policy above.
* Exceptions will be made for officially scheduled school events (field trips, one-off sports fixtures etc.) so long as you communicate to your coach about these in advance
Other leadership opportunities
There is a range of projects across the School whose success depends upon students taking leadership roles.
HS Community Action Council
The new HS Community Action Council coordinates student-led action projects and fundraising activities. The council leads and delivers some projects directly (such as the annual Giving Tree project) and also coordinates whole school initiatives with the Middle and Lower schools. Election for Council members will be held this fall.
Questions? Write to community_action@asl.org or reach out to the Council Presidents Layla Khatiblou '25 and Ella Friel '25.
Community volunteer day
Community Volunteer Day brings the ASL community together twice a year to make a positive and visible impact at a dozen local charities. Volunteers spend three hours transforming local sites taking part in activities such as gardening, painting, clearing and tidying. It's an incredibly important and rewarding activity involving over 400 ASL volunteers. Each site is led by two High School Site Leaders who work with a parent to plan and organize the event. Applications for leadership of this Fall's CVD (Sunday, October 25) will be released in early September.
Parents also play a key role; interested parents should write to parent Laura Beal at pca.cvdays@asl.org
Launch your own Partnership!
Some of our most exciting after-school partnerships are those which are inspired by student passion and dedication. In recent years students have launched and led partnerships leading a dance club at a local primary school, teaching robotics at local high schools, teaching sustainability and art to 4th graders, and much more. If you have an idea for a partnership you would like to build reach out to Brandon Block.
SHINE assistants
On Saturdays, from November through March, year 8 and 9 students from across London come to ASL for an engaging and creative learning program. ASL students play a key role in SHINE, befriending participants, and serving as program mentors. Students wishing to apply to be SHINE assistants must commit to attend at least three Saturday mornings during the season. For more information, contact ASL SHINE project managers Rita Bediako and Sandy Mateus or see the SHINE website.
West London Model United Nations
West London Model UN is an annual two day conference organized by the Community Action program, which draws together students from 20 schools across London for a two day simulation of a meeting of the United Nations. ASL middle and high schoolers serve as conference delegates, while upperclassmen serve as the conference secretariat, and committee chairpeople. This year's conference will take place on Saturday, 7 February 2026. Applications for conference chairpeople will open in mid-September. Contact Leila Meilman '26 or write to wlmun@asl.org Students interested in being delegates should apply via the ASL Model UN club: write to Ms. Lanting Xu.
Youth London Climate Conference
Founded in 2025 the YLCC is the product of collaboration between ASL's Sustainability Council, ASL Community Action and the Wildlife and Wetland Trust. The conference, held at the beautiful Wetland Center in Barnes brings together young people from 8 London Schools to explore issues of climate change and biodiversity and lay the foundations for action in their school and communities. Students interested in serving as conference organizers can do so by application.
Community partnership media team
The team is responsible for documenting service events. We are looking for people skilled in filmmaking, photography or reporting to document our programs. If you are interested in applying to join this team, please email Brandon Block.
youngPOWER
Launched ten years ago by students from ASL and Westminster Academy, the youngPOWER conference brings together students from across London to breakdown stereotypes, demolish the walls that divide us, and identify paths for taking action in our communities. Participation in the program is by application, and is open to all high school students. Applications for this year’s Conference Executive Team will open in early September. Questions to Laila Taraporevala '26, Mr. Block or Mr. Rojas.
Service clubs
ASL students organize a wide range of clubs dedicated to service and fundraising. If you are interested in forming a service club, please complete a proposal form. Club sign up takes place following the clubs assembly in early September.
Fundraising
Any ASL students seeking to fundraising for a charity must do so under the auspices of an approved council or club. They are also required to complete a fundraising application form -- Dr. Shearer can give you the link.
Athletics and Community Action
Student athletes can find it challenging to participate in our after-school programs owing to time constraints. However, as athletes do not have sports on Thursdays, they can participate in programs on that day. Athletes can also become involved in Community Action through:
Community Volunteer Day
Athletes can serve as participants or apply to be site leaders for our community volunteer days. Athletes are encouraged to involve their entire team!
If you are interested in organizing a team site, speak to your team captains and Brandon Block before submitting a site leader application.
SHINE
As SHINE (see above) runs on Saturdays, it is a great way for athletes to get involved in community action.
