Latest News | 15 June 2021
Bondholders encouraged to back schools scheme
Marketing Derby Bondholders are being urged to get involved in a scheme that aims to connect business leaders with primary school children and inspire their future careers.
The Our Future Derby project inspires and connects youngsters across the Derby Opportunity Area – including Boulton, Chaddesden, Derwent, Normanton, Sinfin and Abbey – with the world of work, opening their eyes to their future possibilities.
Funded by the Department for Education Opportunity Area, the scheme has been working with several city schools, such as Landau Forte Academy Moorlands, who recently held a Job Swap Day for pupils where youngsters applied to become head teacher for the day.
Local businesses, such as Rolls-Royce and Penguin PR, have already volunteered their services to Our Future Derby.
Haider Ali, who works as a management accountancy apprentice at Rolls-Royce, recently took part in a STEM event for pupils at St James CoE Junior School – the Reginald Road school he attended as a child 10 years ago.
He said: “In a small city like Derby, it can often be hard to dream big, so I think Our Future Derby initiative is a great way to break down that narrative and help fix these problems.
“The first event I got involved in was a full day STEM event at my old school. Also having two younger brothers currently attending the school I saw it as a fantastic opportunity to give back to a place that has played a huge part in shaping who I am today.
“The day was extremely successful and included activities for children to explore various topics such as robotics, coding and engineering – these are key skills underpinning today’s digital world.”
Haider said that volunteering was a way of playing a personal part in driving change and tackling problems within society.
He said: “It’s more than just providing a one-off resource and forms part of a much bigger picture.
“Having grown up in Derby, I have seen first-hand how a lack of motivation can make children, particularly from deprived areas, fall into a trap of undervaluing their potential.
“This then impedes both their educational attainment and ultimately their career opportunities as they progress through their lives.
“One of the root causes of this is that pupils simply don’t have exposure to everyday role models and not always believing that they can accomplish anything which they put their minds to from a young age.
“As a volunteer, it was great fun to be involved and I took away a lot from the experience. Engaging with younger children in this way helps to develop confidence and emotional intelligence, so it is equally as valuable for volunteers as it is for pupils.”
Our Future Derby offer an online matchmaking platform, where you can search for volunteer opportunities in local schools or respond to school invitations, saying how you would like to get involved.
To get involved, please click here.
