Urban Partners in the Community
Urban Partners supports a number of projects in the community. Some of the larger projects we are involved in include programmes to assist the disadvantaged to achieve their potential. We also support player funding and piano education programmes for the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.
Staples Education FoundatioN
The Staples Education Foundation is a tertiary scholarship programme established in 2015. In the inaugural year, SEF recruited eight Year 13 students from Dilworth School, who began university studies in 2016 at The University of Auckland or AUT University.
In 2023, SEF expanded its programme to include scholarships from McAuley High School students starting university in 2024. As of early 2024, the Foundation has offered scholarships to 85 students, 41 of our scholarship recipients have graduated, and 57 have joined our Alumni Programme. All other scholarship recipients are currently continuing their studies.
Scholarships are awarded annually and provide financial and social support over 3 years while the students are at university.
The SEF Scholarship has three key objectives:
To achieve a tertiary qualification
To get a job (ultimately securing full-time employment in a
career of choice)To give back to society
The students are supported by a Buddy for their 1st year (2nd or 3rd year university student from the same faculty) and a mentor for 3 years. Mentors are people of good character with work, life and university experience behind them. Many are matched to students studying the same career path.
In 2018 the Haydn Staples and Auckland Philharmonia Piano Scholarship Programme became a part of the Foundation. This innovative programme is one of the most comprehensive training programmes for emerging pianists in the country. It is run in partnership with the School of Music at the University of Auckland. It provides talented young musicians with a diverse portfolio of skills to complement their advance solo studies, equipping them with invaluable experiences and training opportunities that will facilitate vastly improved options for career paths in many diverse areas of music.
To find out more about the students who have been awarded Haydn Staples and Auckland Philharmonia Piano Scholarship Programme click here.
Urban Partners supports the Foundation by supplying work experience and mentors for some of the scholarship recipients. They also share office space with the Foundation’s Executive Team.
To find out more about the Staples Education Foundation click here.
“It is a privilege to give a hand to deserving young students. The feedback from participants in the SEF has been outstanding and I am committed to ensuring the SEF is set up to endure and stand the test of time” Haydn Staples
