Initiative aims to build brighter future for next generation

Derby City Council has joined forces with partners across the city to help build a brighter future for the city’s children and young people, and their families.

It has signed up to the Derby Promise, which aims to expand opportunities, raise aspirations and promote the wellbeing of the next generation.

It will see a network of businesses, educational and cultural organisations – together with the city council – provide meaningful opportunities for children, young people and adults from primary school right through to further and adult education.

They will be able to access careers experiences, build their skills and explore the future of work.

The Derby Promise was launched with an event at the Rolls-Royce’s Nuclear Skills Academy at Infinity Park.

Councillor Baggy Shanker, leader of Derby City Council, said: “Our children and young people are the future of Derby, and we can support them to live their best lives and achieve their potential by through education, up-skilling, and personal development.

“As a forward-thinking manufacturing city with a rich industrial history, Derby is the ideal place for children to be inspired by the innovation all around them.

“Having inspirational experiences at a young age, whether it’s a cultural encounter, going to a sporting event or visiting a workplace like Rolls-Royce or Toyota, can ignite something in a child.”

Derby is a member of UNESCO’s Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC), in recognition of its outstanding efforts to make lifelong learning a reality for all people within the city.

The Derby Promise will build on the work that is already happening with a programme of action, which includes the creation of its logo, which will be co-created with young people.

The full programme is still in development, but events already planned include a Festival of Sport this summer, promoting physical activity and wellbeing for all.

There will be an annual Festival of Ideas, which this year will focus on Climate Change.

It will feature a Big Questions event with the University of Derby, industry leaders and young people looking at key challenges facing the world and the solutions we can bring, plus school projects, competitions and debates.

Other highlights will include the Derby Book – a city-wide campaign to get children reading and develop their communication skills – and a series of industry-led projects with schools, led by the council’s Enterprise for Education (E4E) team.

Rolls-Royce is one of the Derby businesses which has signed up to support the Derby Promise.

Steve Layton, the firm’s head of engineering operations, said: “Derby is our home, and the Derby Promise is about bringing industry closer to younger people to inspire their future careers.

“It’s important that we go out into schools, hear what’s important to children and help them make the connection between what they’re learning, what’s important to them and what we do here.

“We want young people in the city to see themselves having a career with us.”