The Houses of Parliament played host to Waltham Forest students on two occasions recently when local young people were chosen to be ambassadors for two National Programmes supported in Waltham Forest by Babcock.

Year 11 students Colette George and Joyce Yazbeck from Holy Family College attended the WECAN Aimhigher launch at Portcullis House, Houses of Parliament, where they gave an inspiring and confident presentation about Aimhigher activities that take place in Waltham Forest.

Aimhigher helps state school students who have the potential to go to university become aware of higher education and encourages students to apply. Colette and Joyce spoke to the invited audience about their own experiences of Aimhigher and the inspiration it has given them to work towards a University place. They described the benefits of visiting universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College and Queen Mary College, speaking to existing students about University life and attending Master Classes.

Hot on their heels students who have completed the Life Routes programme, which is run by the alternative provision Focus 12 and supported by Babcock’s Change for Children Team, were chosen to speak to an audience of MPs, Members of the House of Lords and distinguished education experts on how the programme has impacted on their lives and aspirations for the future.

Life Routes is a programme for young people ages 11 – 19 who for a variety of reasons are not accessing mainstream education. Through the programme the young people take part in community based projects and activities where they develop the skills, knowledge and understanding of how to act in challenging situations, thereby increasing their confidence to make positive choices and reach goals.

Liam Donnison, Babcock General Manager said,

‘I would like to congratulate both sets of students who were excellent ambassadors for our Borough. The students were a tribute to the hard work and dedication shown by all those school and college staff who support these programmes.

Our work with Aimhigher and Life Routes are just two examples of the positive impact Babcock is having in Waltham Forest, working closely with our partners to improve the lives of young people’.

Life Routes students (from left to right) Michael, Frankie and Kadeem with Paul Burstow (MP for Sutton and Cheam) and Will Harris, Nokia Marketing Director.