Catholic education ministry Ten Ten Resources to become employee-owned in a model of shared stewardship

image by John Cairns

Ten Ten Resources has announced that, with effect from 27 March 2026, it will transition to an employee-owned company, placing ownership in trust for the people who create and deliver its Catholic educational programmes each day.

Founded in 2007 by siblings Clare and Martin O'Brien, Ten Ten began as a theatre-in-education initiative and has grown into one of the leading providers of curriculum programmes for Catholic schools in England and Wales. Its resources for Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE), PSHE, and Prayer and Liturgy are now used by the majority of Catholic schools nationally.

The move to employee ownership formalises what the founders describe as a long-standing culture of shared responsibility and stewardship, while providing a structure designed to protect the organisation's mission for the long term.

"Ten Ten was and is God's work," said co-founder Clare O'Brien.

"We, and hundreds of staff and freelancers over the past 20 years, have been co-creators, 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.

This transition reflects that spirit of stewardship."

Under the new Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) model, the company's 12 employees will become beneficiaries of the trust, aligning ownership with those responsible for carrying forward Ten Ten's work in schools across England and Wales. The structure is intended to secure the organisation's independence, embed accountability in its leadership, and provide stability for Catholic education partners.

Co-founders Clare and Martin O'Brien will step down from day-to-day operational involvement on the transition date, having spent the past year handing leadership to a new senior management team. They will remain connected to the organisation in advisory capacities.

The company will now be led by Joint CEOs Edith Kirkwood and Martin Foley. Edith Kirkwood has worked with Ten Ten since 2017 and has played a central role in developing and delivering its curriculum programmes. Martin Foley joined the organisation after serving as CEO of the Catholic charities Stella Maris and Arise Foundation.

Martin Foley said: "Catholic Social Teaching emphasises participation, responsibility and the dignity of work. Employee ownership reflects those principles in practice. It ensures that Ten Ten's mission - to support the spiritual and personal development of children and young people and parents as primary educators - is carried forward collectively and with long-term commitment to Catholic schools."

Charles Wookey, former Assistant General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales and co-founder of Blueprint for Better Business, will join the new Trust Board as an independent trustee.

Matt Corrigan, who will become one of the new employee-owners, said: "This change recognises the work we do and gives us a real stake in shaping the company's future. It's exciting to be part of an organisation where we're all invested - personally and professionally - in doing the right thing for our schools and the wider Catholic community."

A blog post outlining the transition has been published on the Ten Ten website, alongside a video message from Clare and Martin O'Brien.

About Ten Ten Resources

Ten Ten Resources is a family-run, award-winning creative media company that uses story and drama to speak to hearts and minds. Originally founded by siblings Clare and Martin O'Brien as a theatre-in-education company, Ten Ten Resources has grown into a leading provider of online resources for Catholic schools and beyond. Their comprehensive programmes for Relationships, Sex and Health Education, PSHE and Prayer and Liturgy are used in over 80% of Catholic schools in England and Wales. The name,

'Ten Ten' comes from the Scripture passage, John 10:10: "I have come that you may have life, life to the full."

LINK

Ten Ten Resources: www.tentenresources.co.uk/