In its 50th year, Rigby Group through its charity, The Rigby Foundation launched ‘Inspiring Futures’ a social mobility project aimed at 11- to 25- year-olds from low income backgrounds.
The programme pairs 10 schools and colleges from the city with 10 leading charities who will provide support with activities including maths and English attainment, mental health, debating skills and preparing for employment.
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Working alongside the West Midlands Combined Authority and Birmingham City Council, the organisation aims to support at least 1,000 children each year over three years, with £1mn of funding per year.
According to a recent report by Action for Children, 46.4% of children in the West Midlands live in poverty.
Steve Rigby, chair of The Rigby Foundation, said that the organisation is “focused on nurturing and supporting our region’s young people into work”, in line with Birmingham Mayor Richard Parker’s ‘West Midlands Youth Employment Plan’.
Rigby added: “That starts with a good education and we hope by bringing together schools, colleges and charities, we can raise the aspirations of our city’s students.
He explained that ‘Inspiring Futures’ is the result of many months of research, meetings with more than 30 potential charity partners, and mapping the secondary school systems alongside Birmingham City Council.
“It is our hope that our funding of this programme will allow disadvantaged, young people in Birmingham to strive and succeed in education, and to go on to sustainable and meaningful careers,” continued Rigby.
The charities involved are Action Tutoring, Ahead Partnership, Debate Mate, Envision, Get Further, IntoUniversity, Place2Be, Skills Builder, Sutton Trust and Zero Gravity.
‘Inspiring Futures’ is solely focused on low-income communities which have high levels of deprivation and multiple challenges.
The ten school partners are Ark Boulton, Ark St Albans, CORE City Academy, CORE Jewellery Quarter, Grace Academy, John Henry Newman Catholic College, King Edward VI Sheldon Heath Academy, Small Heath Academy, St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School and South and City College.
Jacqueline Maher, deputy principal at South and City College, Birmingham said the support “will go a long way in ensuring that a number of our post 16 students will secure their maths and English GCSEs so they can meet the conditions for gateway exams”, adding: “This opportunity further enables us to directly impact the life chances of students facing challenges in education.
“The initiative will support our students to reach their full potential and grow in confidence which will impact their overall studies now and in the future.”
