Formula 1 gives back – a reflection on local community outreach in 2025

As Formula 1 pauses for the summer break, take a look back at a number of meaningful initiatives Formula 1 has supported across Bromley, Westminster and throughout the UK during the first part of 2025.

Work Experience and Education Charity Partnerships

Encouraging the next generation to consider a career in motorsport, whatever their background, is a key pillar of Formula 1's community activity.

Work Experience

This year, F1 has continued to offer engaging work experience placements across its racing systems, corporate, broadcast and media, and finance departments to 22 students in 2025 and offered a range of programmes to actively engage young people in what it's like to work in motorsport.

Scholarships, apprenticeships, and internships

Formula 1 offers a range of educational opportunities to encourage young people into motorsport. This includes:

• Supporting 10 engineering scholars a year at leading UK and Italian universities. The programme has been in place since 2021 with $1 million dollars invested by Formula 1. Each scholarship covers the full cost of a student's tuition, together with living expenses, for the full duration of their degree.
• This year we've also conducted 10 internships across departments at Formula 1 providing experience and guidance to people wanting to pursue a career in motorsport.
• And we've worked with The Blair Project to support two engineering apprenticeships, which have led to permanent employment with F1.

STEM Challenge Days

For the third year running, STEM Challenge Days are inspiring the next generation to consider careers in science, technology, engineering, and maths, through a series of fun technical challenges.

• Local schools, based in Bromley and Motorsport Valley have tasked students with making a racing car.
• Members of F1, FIA, F1 teams and The Smallpeice Trust have been involved in the scheme and attended STEM challenge days.
• This academic year, there has been a total of ten Challenge Days have taken place so far, reaching over 309 students, with 93.5% of students saying they enjoyed the activity, and 71.5% now interested in a career in STEM.
• The next cohort of sessions will begin again for the new school year starting from September.

The Next Grand Prix

Formula 1's 'The Next Grand Prix' programme works in partnership with the charity Social Mobility Business Partnership (SMBP) to invite students to deliver a fictional bid for a new Formula One World Championship location.

• F1 has welcomed over 500 students to take on the challenge since it was established.
• So far this year, we have hosted five workshops in partnership with SMBP and four leading law firms A&O Shearman, Clifford Chance, Hogan Lovells, and Travers Smith.
• We will be hosting the Championship Final at Formula 1's Media & Technology Centre in Kent once again in October.
• The programme was recently shortlisted for the 2025 UK Social Mobility Awards (SOMOs) in the Innovation category.

British Council

Formula 1 is on a mission to encourage young people to consider subjects that can lead to a career in motorsport and in collaboration with the British Council, it has launched 'Learning Sectors', an education programme to inspire young people around the world to get involved in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) subjects.

• The programme, which began in January 2025, works with young people aged seven to 16 in 700 schools across Brazil, India, South Africa and the UK, reaching more than 130,000 students.
• In partnership with the British Council at Silverstone, a group of 24 teachers and students, made up of two winning teams of UK secondary school students from the Learning Sectors Supported by Formula 1 programme, attended the British Grand Prix to experience the joy of F1, learn about motorsport careers and see STEM skills in action.

Aspiring Solicitors

Formula 1 has partnered with Aspiring Solicitors, a charity helping diverse young students take key steps into the legal profession, to provide work experience in the Formula 1 legal team to eight first-year university students.

• The scheme is now in its fourth year.
• Previous students have since secured roles at some of the most prestigious law firms, including Clifford Chance, Skadden, and Latham & Watkins.
• F1 is also partnering with Aspiring Solicitors to offer a legal vacation scheme for students from underrepresented backgrounds. There will be 8 interns in total.

Charity Partnerships

Race Against Dementia (RAD)

Formula 1 supports the NGO 'Race Against Dementia', founded by Sir Jackie Stewart, which raises and allocates funds to research in the race to prevent or find a treatment for dementia.

• To mark 75 years of Formula 1 and 60 years since his debut, Sir Jackie took a tribute lap in Bahrain, driving his iconic 1973 Tyrrell, over 50 years since his last race.
• Formula 1 is hosting the annual RAD forum at its Media and Technology Centre later in the year.
• RAD has raised over £600k so far in 2025, with the target of £1 million by the end of the year.

Make-A-Wish

Since 2023, Formula 1 has supported the global children's charity, Make-A-Wish, to grant life-changing wishes and unforgettable experiences to children living with critical illnesses. So far this year, F1 has granted 41 'Wishes' with Make-A-Wish, including 14 wishes at the British Grand Prix 2025.

Make-A-Wish and RAD were also joined at Silverstone by Great Ormond Street Hospital, Rays of Sunshine, Mission 44, STEM Racing, and Renaissance Foundation British Council Chelsea Pensioners and collectively more than £100,000 was raised across the race weekend, providing the sport with an incredible opportunity to invite its UK-based charities to the circuit to provide a memorable and unique experience.

Work in the local community

• In partnership with Bromley Council, Formula 1 has donated more than 21,000 nutritious meal boxes to families since 2024, ensuring children eligible for free school meals have access to healthy dinners during the school holidays.
• This summer, the breakfast and family meal boxes will be distributed to students enrolled on Bromley's Holiday activities and food programme, as well as 'Looked after Children & Care Leavers'. Last year,100 additional spaces were funded at Bromley's holiday activities & food programmes for families struggling to afford play activities
• Formula 1 has expanded its existing community partnerships and volunteer opportunities through the Community Links Bromley, facilitating opportunities within the communities of Bromley, such as Woodcraft Folk, a residential centre for young people.

So far, a total of 143 volunteer hours and more than £20,000 have been donated by Formula 1 and its colleagues to local causes including meal service, art & music therapy, gardening and student workshops.

As part of F1's 'Giving Drive' employees donated essential items to the charity Bromley Brighter Beginnings, supporting families experiencing financial hardships.

Formula 1 have a permanent annual collection for Bromley Borough Food Bank.

Adrienne Heeley, Chief People and Organisation Officer at Formula 1, said:

"At Formula 1, we are passionate about giving back by supporting initiatives across the UK and within the local communities of Westminster and Bromley, where our corporate office, Media and Technology Centre and 750 colleagues are based.

"Over the years, Formula 1 has partnered with a host of inspiring charities and supported initiatives that help overcome issues including food poverty and barriers to education. We will continue to support programmes that create a profound and positive impact on those in our local communities, as well as offering engaging opportunities for the next generation of talent."