Aspire students celebrate graduation

Last week local young people graduated from Toynbee Hall’s Aspire programme in a celebratory event at Toynbee Hall’s theatre on Commercial Street.

Like a university graduation, the young people received certificates to recognise their achievements in completing the Think, Achieve and Express modules that have run throughout the year.

The 50 Year 10 students of five local secondary schools on Aspire have made short films, composed and performed music and theatre pieces, achieved in Citizenship workshops and been on a sailing voyage off the south coast.

Aspire aimed to build confidence and raise the aspirations of the young people involved over the year, those chosen to participate were not fully grasping the opportunities school had to offer.

Having completed Aspire the students describe feeling more like themselves and being liked as they are. “We don’t get time in school to do the kinds of things we do in the workshops. It’s been hard to role-play in front of other people, but I’m learning to speak out in public.” Student on Aspire.

Due to the success of the first year of Aspire the programme will run again next academic year in more schools in Tower Hamlets and Hackney. See www.toynbeehall.org.uk/aspire for more information.

ENDS

Contact: Elli Moody, 020 7392 2930 / elli.moody@toynbeehall.org.uk