When we look back to the very beginning of Ten Ten in 2007, we see a small team. A brother and sister, and our mum, working around a kitchen table in a council house in North London, figuring out ways to respond to a need in Catholic schools with creativity and care.

From those beginnings, Ten Ten has grown into something far bigger than we ever could have imagined. What began as a play performed in schools became four teams on the road all year round, working with 120,000+ children, young people, parents, teachers and young offenders. Then it became a mini film production house, producing internationally award-winning content. And then it became the creator of curriculum programmes now used by the vast majority of Catholic schools in England and Wales.

Ten Ten was and is God’s work. We, along with the hundreds of actors, freelancers and members of staff over the past 20 years, have been co-creators with God, responding to the needs of the times as best we can. From early on, we never experienced Ten Ten as something we “owned”. It felt entrusted to us – something we were given to care for, with the responsibility of stewardship.

It’s in that spirit of stewardship that we want to share an important next step.

The Next Chapter

On Friday 27 March 2026, Ten Ten will become an employee-owned organisation. This will be established through the creation of an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).

You’re probably aware of the ‘John Lewis Model’ in which staff are known as ‘partners’. Other well-known employee-owned organisations include Riverford Foods, The Entertainer and Aardman Animations. These are organisations where ownership sits not with one individual or, in our case, two individuals. Ownership is shared with the people who carry the mission forward day by day.

For us, this is not a sudden change of direction. It is a formal expression of something that has been true for many years: Ten Ten has always been sustained by a committed, faith-filled team who believe deeply in serving schools well.

Employee ownership simply roots that reality in a structure designed for the long term.

What This Means for Schools

Essentially, this means continuity. The programmes you rely on remain. The team you work with continue in their roles. The mission is unchanging.

What changes is that Ten Ten’s future is secured in a way that protects its vision, mission and values. Ownership rests with those who care passionately about Catholic education and who are committed to supporting schools not just for the next few years but, God willing, for decades to come.

What This Means for Us

The staff structure remains the same. Ten Ten will continue to be director-led, with leadership and accountability firmly in place. We are delighted to announce that the new directors of Ten Ten Resources will be Edith Kirkwood (Director of Content) and Martin Foley (Director of Catholic Mission).

Edith has been working with Ten Ten since 2017. She has been instrumental in writing, producing and delivering the programmes schools use daily, including Life to the Full, Prayer and Liturgy, and RE Deep Dive.

Although Martin has only recently joined the team, he has been part of the Ten Ten story for many years. Back in 2007, as CEO of LIFE, he supported our very first touring production of Babies through an early partnership with Ten Ten Theatre. When Ten Ten Resources was later established, he continued that support in his role as CEO of Stella Maris, helping us build the strong and sustainable foundations on which we now stand.

We are delighted that Edith and Martin will become our Joint CEOs, leading the team in exciting and ambitious ways.

Rooted in Service

Employee ownership feels entirely consistent with Ten Ten’s story. From family beginnings to a wider team culture. From personal initiative to shared responsibility. From something started by a few to something carried by many.

We hope that this step enables Ten Ten to focus even more clearly on its mission: helping children, young people, teachers, and parents to encounter faith and life in ways that are engaging, thoughtful, and life-giving.

If you’d like to hear us share more personally about this journey, we’ve recorded a short video reflecting on where Ten Ten began and why this new chapter matters. You can watch it below.

Thank you for the trust you place in Ten Ten. It remains a privilege to serve you.