Time to Celebrate!
July has been a busy month for the Trust, as we’ve welcomed young people across the country to celebrate their achievements at events in London and Sheffield.
On 4th July participants from AQA Unlocking Potential travelled from across the country to the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London for the programme’s celebration. The transformational mentoring programme for students aged from 11-19 years of age, delivered in partnership between education charity AQA aims to raise student's aspirations and expectations for future life goals, equipping them with a winning mindset that’s ready to achieve. This year we’ve opened the opportunity to more schools and more young people than ever before, and the students from 30 schools showed how positive an impact working with their athlete mentors has had over the academic year by engaging with local MPs and our board of Trustees at the event. No mean feat for young people some of whom, when we first met them in November were social phobic, disengaged and demotivated. Their confidence shone through as they presented to the room on stage, took part in activities with the other schools and spoke to camera about their experiences. For some, this was their first time in London and they took the chance to visit the sites, with one lucky group taken on a tour of the Houses of Parliament with their MP!
The following week we celebrated the fantastic achievements of young people in Sheffield. Through our partnership with Double Gold partner, Westfield Health, as well as other local partners, we are have supported young people in 13 schools in Sheffield this year. In an exciting visit to Sheffield United Football Club, this group of 150 young people challenged themselves in a range of activities supported by their athlete mentors, and our Founder and President Dame Kelly Holmes. Highlighting some of the fantastic work they have all delivered in their local communities through social action projects, some of the students also shared their experiences with a group of local businesses, as well as the local media.
Sharing their Stories
Students, Evie and Mahmoud, from Parkwood Academy, spoke to Dame Kelly Holmes and athlete mentor, James Kirton about how their confidence had grown throughout the academic year thanks to the programme – a public speaking task neither believed they would ever be able to do before taking part in On Track to Achieve.
More on both events coming soon!