Family business to give £3 million to support disadvantaged young people in Birmingham
The charitable arm of a leading Midlands family business has announced a £3 million commitment to help raise the aspirations of disadvantaged young people in Birmingham.
In its 50th year, Rigby Group through its charity, The Rigby Foundation has launched a groundbreaking social mobility project called ‘Inspiring Futures’ 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 which will provide support with activities like maths and English attainment, mental health, debating skills and preparing for employment.
According to a recent report by Action for Children, close to half of children in the West Midlands live in poverty. The Rigby Foundation is committed to funding programs that help the region’s young people succeed in education and secure meaningful employment.
Steve Rigby, Chair of The Rigby Foundation, said: “In keeping with Richard Parker’s West Midlands Youth Employment Plan, we are focused on nurturing and supporting our region’s young people into work. 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.
"‘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.”
Working alongside the WMCA and Birmingham City Council, the Foundation will offer £1 million per year (for three years) of support.
The commitment aims to help more than 1,000 pupils per year to achieve goals and aspirations that otherwise could not be attained. 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 for South and City College, Birmingham said: “The financial support we are receiving from The Rigby Foundation 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.
“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.”
