Armstrong Bell joins us as our first VAT Community Member!
Following the launch of our Community Partners initiative, we’re delighted to announce Armstrong Bell has joined us as our first VAT Community Member! The financial commitment will go directly towards providing experiences for our children, in which they otherwise might not have chance to take part. Furthermore, they have joined us at a Gold membership level, which we are absolutely thrilled about.
It is wonderful to have the support of Amstrong Bell as we set out to establish vital links with our wider communities. Nick Lake, Head of Sales at Armstrong Bell, commented ‘Following the recent Community Partners event, I wanted to reach out to say how much we appreciated being part of it. It was a real privilege to hear firsthand about the challenges and opportunities facing the Trust’s schools and students. Meeting the headteachers and the children really brought this to life for us – and was genuinely inspiring.’
As a Gold Member of Victoria Academies Trust, Armstrong Bell is proud to support the Trust’s mission to give every child access to high-quality learning experiences. With over 20 years of experience in IT and communications for schools, we understand the pressures staff face – and the power of reliable technology to make a real difference. From improving WiFi and phone systems to enabling flexible working and seamless learning, we’re here to help schools across the Trust save time, stay connected, and plan confidently for the future.
LMP becomes a VAT Community Supporter, helping us grow for the future - literally!
Working with us as a Community Partner isn’t just about financial support; after attending our launch event, the team at LMP Education was inspired to donate trees to our schools! This was a much-appreciated offer, enabling us to enhance our forest schools and complete green projects within our school communities.
Having outdoor space for our children gives them the opportunity to learn in a variety of environments. It is also incredibly beneficial to pupils’ mental health, and provides an enjoyable, interactive learning experience. Keep your eyes peeled for news to come of these trees being planted!
Community Partners Launch Event - June 2025
We officially launched our Community Partners initiative on 13th June 2025. The event brought together external partners with Headteachers from each of our 11 schools, members of the Trust central team and a group of children, representing their friends and peers across Victoria Academies Trust.
Attendees had the chance to hear more about the Community Partners programme and – even more importantly – understand why we are doing this. Headteachers and children took to the stage to explain why we need the support of Community Partners to be able to offer vital learning experiences and lifechanging school trips to our children. We discussed poverty proofing and what this means for our children and their families, best summarised by a quote from one of our parents: ‘It’s hard to buy uniform and pay for trips when you can’t even heat your home or afford food.’ The children shared their favourite memories of school trips and experiences, and some of the places they dream of visiting.
The event was driven by networking, over tea, coffee and lunch, prompting meaningful conversations about how we can move forward, as partners. This was the first opportunity to bring our partners together – the first of many to come! If you would like to find out more about our VAT Community Partners scheme or our upcoming events, do please get in touch!
