Our Schools Program

The Foundation has established a ‘Schools Program’ whose flagship ‘Hanson Box’ delivers first class educational and entertaining materials to touch the lives of millions of young people.

In 2019 ‘Hanson Boxes’ were despatched to 10,000 primary schools across the United Kingdom and all primary and secondary schools in the British Overseas Territories. For the Autumn of 2020 this program has been doubled to 20,000 larger ‘Hanson Boxes’, meaning that over the two years all schools will have received at least one.

The Schools Program strategic partner for 2019 was the highly-respected Royal Horticultural Society, and in 2020 we are delighted to partner with Jane Goodall and her ‘Roots and Shoots’ organisation.

Our ‘Hanson Box’ concept has been acclaimed and is now in demand in the United States and Australia, where we are sending an additional 4000 Hanson Boxes funded by Roots and Shoots. We plan to launch the American ‘Hanson Box’, funded locally, in 2021.

Through the ‘Hanson Box’ schools can sign up as members of our Schools Program to get support, competitions and access to match funding grants throughout the year, and thousands have opted in.

The Don Hanson Charitable Foundation is a key partner of the Darwin200 project.

Our 2020 support enabled a team of 10 young scientists and 25 trainee young sailors to join the Darwin200 UK Voyage, and undertake environmental research projects in partnership with the University of Plymouth.

Over the course of 7 weeks, the Darwin200 team sailed around the British archipelago, undertaking systematic studies of macro and micro plastic pollution, a survey of chemical pollutants in UK waters, a UK-wide citizen science study of whales, dolphins, seals and sunfish (contributing data to the Sea Watch Foundation), as well as studies of wind power, other sources of sustainable energy and many other exciting research projects, as well as several live lectures beamed from the ship to classrooms around the world via satellite.

The team young scientists and volunteer engaged vast audiences in the UK and beyond, in an attempt to educate the public about the pressing environment issues which they studied. The young scientists engaged in extensive outreach activities, media appearances (including articles in more than 20 newspapers), blogs, social media pieces and a series of online videos (search Darwin200 on Youtube).

Visit www.darwin200.com for a summary of the voyage’s findings and discoveries.

For more information please click on the image above to view our video or visit our special-purpose website www.hansonbox.org

The Don Hanson Charitable Foundation
Charity number 1122463

Correspondence: 2 Foundry Mews, 58 Barnes High Street, Barnes, London SW13 9AZ, United Kingdom

Registered office: Linden House, Linden Close, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 8HH, United Kingdom