Latest News | 4 May 2021
Initiative raises career aspirations of thousands of children
An initiative backed by Derby City Council and East Midlands Chamber to raise the aspirations of youngsters in deprived areas of Derby, has engaged more than 12,500 children and teachers.
Our Future Derby, which brought together a consortium of education providers and employers, including the chamber, delivered career-based learning at 32 primary schools in seven Derby wards between April 2019 and December 2020.
The aim of the initiative is to expand opportunities, improve gender equality and enhance social mobility.
A new evaluation and impact assessment report has found that after taking part in activities as part of the £250,000 Government-funded project, 81% of children said they had learned about at least five new jobs.
Meanwhile, 93% agreed that “people like me can do any job they want when they grow up”.
Pieter Eksteen, the chamber’s education and business partnerships manager. said: “Our Future Derby is an innovative programme that aims to inspire children and help them see the link between their education and the world of work from an early age.
“It’s all about bringing children, parents, schools, teachers and employers together to plant the seeds of hope and raise pupils’ aspirations for their futures.
“Research shows children’s aspirations are often shaped, moulded, and restricted by gender stereotyping, socio-economic background and the people they meet in their local area.
“We believe that collaboration between schools, families and businesses will help children to gain a better understanding of world of work, the opportunities that are out there and how they can make the most of them.”
The Our Future Derby project began in summer 2019 to link children and schools in the seven wards – Abbey, Arboretum, Boulton, Chaddesden, Derwent, Normanton and Sinfin – to the world of work.
Commissioned and funded by the Department for Education’s Opportunity Area Board, the programme works in partnership with primary schools.
Its aims include opening children’s eyes to their future possibilities, enabling teachers to link classroom learning with future employment opportunities, engaging local employers to widen children’s horizons, working with parents and carers to raise their children’s aspirations, and developing employability skills.
For more information about Our Future Derby please click here.
