Education | Columbia Threadneedle Foundation | Columbia Threadneedle Investments

There is an acute need to improve financial education and financial inclusion in our communities. The Foundation supports a range of education programmes and initiatives, as well as programmes to provide skills, training and access to employment for vulnerable groups.

SEO London (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity)

Columbia Threadneedle Foundation is proud to support SEO London, a charity that prepares talented students from ethnic minority or low socioeconomic backgrounds for career success.

The Foundation supports SEO Advance, a programme that identifies, inspires and trains talented students in years 11-13, broadening their horizons through access to academic, professional and enrichment opportunities. The SEO Advance programme organises events and activities to inspire students, giving them the chance to explore options and make informed choices about their future. Activities include insight days and work experience placements; comprehensive skills sessions to develop commercial awareness and technical skills; bespoke open days at the UK’s top universities and mentoring from experienced SEO alumni and industry professionals.

Foundation Trustee Selma Hassabu said: “The team at SEO are doing great work at the grass roots level providing the needed exposures and helping students further develop the self-confidence, belief and skills necessary for future career success. I am proud to work for a firm that has decided to walk the walk on workplace diversity by partnering with SEO and investing in the development of diverse talent.”

Learn more about SEO London.

Centre for Financial Capability

Columbia Threadneedle Foundation is a founding supporter of the newly founded Centre for Financial Capability, a charity whose mission is to provide an effective and high-quality financial education to every primary aged child in the UK.

Recent date from YouGov shows that almost a quarter (23%) of primary school children worry about money and 85% of children and young people believe that if you look after money, it makes you feel better.

To help children develop a positive relationship with money and build a secure financial future, the Centre for Financial Capability brings together stakeholders across the primary financial education space to effect change. It will foster innovative new delivery models and work with Government to maximise the provision of primary financial education for all. The charity’s mission is further reinforced by the 150 members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Financial Education for Young People calling for primary financial education for every child by 2030.

The Centre for Financial Capability is formed by the supporters of existing charity KickStart Money, a long-term charity partner of Columbia Threadneedle. KickStart Money is an award-winning coalition of savings and investment firms who have donated over £1 million to fund a financial education programme, delivered by MyBnk, to over 20,000 primary pupils across the UK.

Watch this video to find out more about the Centre of Financial Capability and to hear from Tammie Tang, Fixed Income Portfolio Manager at Columbia Threadneedle and a Columbia Threadneedle Foundation Trustee, who explains how we support programmes that have positive social impact.

Bounce Back

In 2018 the Foundation began a multi-year partnership with Bounce Back, a charity and social enterprise that works both in and out of prison to train and prepare people for employment. Fully supporting people throughout their time in prison and through the gate, Bounce Back acts as a ‘bridge’ working with individuals for up to a year as they return to their lives and into work.

Bounce Back provides training centres in several prisons as well as in the community, with a focus on giving people the opportunity to gain skills and qualifications that will enable them to secure employment on release either in the Bounce Back Decorating Team or with construction industry partners. They train in skills that are in demand including painting and decorating, scaffolding, dry lining and aerial window cleaning.

Learn more about Bounce Back.

Latest Columbia Threadneedle Foundation News

19 December 2025

Making an impact in 2025

Columbia Threadneedle Foundation continues to support its long-term charity partners, helping them deliver vital work to improve individual lives, whilst also driving fundamental social change.

17 December 2024

Making an impact in 2024

Columbia Threadneedle Foundation continues to support its long-term charity partners, helping them deliver vital work to improve individual lives, whilst also driving fundamental social change.

19 December 2023

Supporting our communities in 2023

In 2023 Columbia Threadneedle Foundation’s ongoing support for its long-term charity partners enabled them to deliver vital work to improve individual lives, whilst also driving fundamental social change.