Manchester, UK: As the UK government’s latest budget leaves schools bracing for more financial pressures, rather than delivering the support so badly needed, Russell Teale, CEO of Vivify, is leading the way with practical solutions and positive change, demonstrating what’s possible when action replaces rhetoric in education.
As well as receiving the Judges’ Award at the 2025 Northern Leaders Awards, recognising his work as CEO of Vivify, on 9 December, he profiled at the Greater Manchester Tech Climbers list reveal event, and named a winner, further highlighting the work he is doing to transform how schools survive and thrive.
Vivify stands out as a practical, tech-for-good answer and Russell co-founded it to help schools generate desperately needed income by renting out facilities to local communities after hours, turning unused classrooms, sports halls and studios into lifelines for both schools and neighbourhoods.
Russell says, “Budgets are tighter than ever and while the government’s latest announcements may provide pockets of support, it’s not enough to cover real costs, let alone add the extras pupils and teachers are calling out for. Schools are making impossible decisions, and after navigating these challenges during my own childhood, I refuse to accept this as the norm as we move into 2026. We know the buildings and facilities are there, empty after classes end, and that there is community demand for connection, so putting the two together is not only common sense, but the road to recovery.”
More than 200 schools nationwide now use Vivify to manage bookings, payments and safeguarding, all with zero upfront cost or added admin for staff, but with huge benefits for them and the local community. The impact goes beyond numbers: schools can retain staff, keep extracurricular programmes running and give local groups affordable space to meet and grow.
Russell’s leadership in this sector is now being recognised and his recent Judges’ Award win, alongside his profile at the Tech Climbers event, is evidence that practical, innovative solutions are possible even in the toughest climate for schools in a generation.
As more schools seek solutions beyond government support, which was sadly lacking in the budget, Russell is urging heads, governors and local authorities to rethink what’s possible.
He concludes, “If we act boldly now, every school in the UK could become a revenue generating community hub after hours, and that’s the future we’re building at Vivify, one booking, one school and one community group at a time.”
