We’re NSEMM
NSEMM began in 2020, when Adrian and Socks, two sixth-form students at a school in a small town in Kent, saw that young people whose families couldn’t afford tutoring were falling behind, especially during lockdown. Neither could afford tutoring themselves. They started with free tutoring, a resource hub and a few YouTube videos, helping a few local families online as well as their friends at school.
Our mission
Why we exist
Private tutoring is common, and families on lower incomes are the least likely to get it. We offer one-to-one tutoring at £25 an hour, and help with the cost for families who need it. We also offer mentoring.
It was always meant to be a charity. At first they didn’t know how to set one up, so they ran it as a small company that put every penny of profit back into lessons. When they went to university in Nottingham, NSEMM came with them. When they found out they could get free legal advice, they set it up properly as a charitable incorporated organisation, registered charity 1209673.
Socks is now a qualified teacher, and Adrian, who first studied Medical Physiology and Therapeutics, is now a graduate-entry medical student. Both are still trustees and run the charity day to day.
Today, our tutoring is online, so families anywhere in England and Wales can apply. Our library programme in Nottingham is paused while we look for funding and volunteers.
Discover what we do and the thinking behind our approach.
Why We Matter
We’ve proven affordable education works
We have delivered 4,430+ hours of tutoring and mentoring since 2020, including our earlier library programme. Our standard price is £25 an hour. The Community Education Fund lowers it, to as little as £5 an hour, for families who need help.
Students teaching students gets results
Most of our tutors are university students who sat the same exams a few years ago. Every tutor has an enhanced DBS check and our training before they teach. About 3 in 10 pupils in England have ever had private tutoring (Sutton Trust, 2023).
Our library programme
From 2025 we ran free sessions in Nottingham libraries with Nottingham City Council. The programme is paused while we look for new funding and volunteers.
Where the money goes
Our money comes from families’ lesson fees, donations, companies and grants. Our full accounts are filed with the Charity Commission.