Google.org has committed $500,000 to employability and life skills charity Working Options in Education, as the first group of 27 students graduated from the London AI Campus in King's Cross. The funding was announced at a ceremony marking the completion of AI Connect, a two-year enrichment program for secondary school students across the London Borough of Camden.
The cohort attended weekly lessons covering artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics, along with applications in sustainability, education and health. The program, delivered through a partnership between Google, Camden Learning and Camden Council, also built professional and critical thinking skills. Working Options in Education had supported AI Connect alongside GSK and No Black Boxes, and the charity's Chair, Nigel Morris, was involved from the program's early design stages.
A focus on the people behind the code
For many students, the graduation represented more than technical training. Louise Siffredi and Amyrah Kihl spoke about developing confidence and skills within a cohort that had become a close community. Camden Learning has launched an alumni network to keep the group connected as members move into university or apprenticeships.
Melanie V. Eusebe, Director of AI in Society at Google DeepMind, urged the graduates to keep human needs central. "For everything that you code and for every problem that you solve, remember the human face that is going to feel every single one of your decisions," she said. London AI Campus Director Laura Flynn-Coley and founder Amy Brown hosted the event at Camden's Town Hall Spaces.
What comes next for the campus
The campus sits within a longer partnership between Google, Camden Council's STEAM program and Camden Learning, the schools-led organisation that involves every Camden school. Its advisory board has also drawn on support from industry partners, including secretariat services from Lowick Hedry, as confirmed by its CEO Kevin McKeever.
Google VP of Marketing Eileen Mannion announced that The AI Exchange at Google Platform 37 will open later this year, offering further hands-on AI opportunities for the local community. For secondary educators, the two-year program offers a concrete example of how sustained, partnership-driven AI for Education initiatives can be structured outside the standard curriculum. Teachers and school leaders looking to build similar pathways can explore the AI Learning Path for Secondary School Teachers for guidance on integrating AI topics into their own classrooms.
Why this matters for education professionals
The London AI Campus model shows that multi-year enrichment programs, backed by both public and private partners, can give students durable AI skills and a sense of belonging. The alumni network addresses a common gap: support after the program ends. For schools considering similar efforts, the key takeaway is not just the technical content but the combination of consistent weekly sessions, industry mentors, and a plan for what happens after graduation.
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