Stephen Twigg: Joining the FEA Board of Trustees
Throughout my career – in Parliament, at the local level and internationally – I have seen how place shapes opportunity. From my early days as a councillor and school governor, then as a local MP and Schools Minister and later chairing the International Development Select Committee, it has been clear that where a child grows up shapes their life chances, opportunities and prospects in later life.
That’s why I am excited to become a trustee of the Fair Education Alliance at this pivotal moment. I have seen what’s possible when local and regional systems come together to address inequality. During my time as MP for Liverpool West Derby - an area that remains close to my heart - I saw both the deep-rooted challenges and the impact of community-led change.
“This collective energy and shared commitment make real, system-wide change possible.”
I saw similar progress through the London Challenge, which I helped set up as a Minister and, more recently, in Dorset, where I now chair the Education Board. When schools, councils, health services, housing providers and employers align around a shared purpose, they create the conditions for joined-up, lasting change.
I have also seen how vital it is to include young people in that process. Too often decisions are made for them, not with them. As a former President of the National Union of Students, I know how powerful youth voice can be when it’s properly embedded. The FEA is doing this brilliantly - through its Youth Steering Group and across its wider membership - and I look forward to supporting and learning from that work.
It is a real privilege to join a coalition with such an impactful and committed membership. The strength of the FEA lies in its diversity - bringing together voices from schools, charities, researchers, businesses and young people themselves. This collective energy and shared commitment make real, system-wide change possible. I am proud to be a part of this movement for change.
Stephen Twigg
FEA Board of Trustees