P3’s Aspire project transforms young people’s lives in Gloucestershire
P3 held a celebration for Aspire Gloucestershire in Cheltenham last week, a three-year project which has successfully supported, housed and engaged 167 young people in Gloucestershire.
The event, held at the Cheltenham Borough Council Municipal offices on Thursday 19 October, marked the closing stages of the project, due to finish in December 2017.
Made possible by innovative Social Impact Bond funding and in partnership with regional charity CCP, Aspire aimed to accommodate homeless young people aged 18-24 and support them into employment, education or training. These were clients with some of the most difficult issues and chaotic lives that P3 has worked with, all of whom had been refused or not able to access other support.
"One of the most privileged things I’ve ever been able to do is partaking in a project that changes people’s lives – that helps young people to change their own lives" - Karen Morgan, Chair of Aspire
The service not only housed clients, but broke down barriers that they may have faced in terms of accessing opportunities, such as being able to write a CV, having clothes to attend an interview and transport to get to and from a job.
Encouraging young people to believe in themselves
One of the young people to receive a certificate from the High Sheriff of Gloucestershire Andrew Tabor was Jamie who said:
“Aspire workers actually care, they prove that every day. They really know how to pair you with the right people and that means you can get things done.”
During a presentation at the event, Service Manager Ella Hawkins commended the link workers and volunteers who’ve been there for their clients and quoted the film Good Will Hunting, which sums up the whole ethos of the project:
"Some people can't believe in themselves until someone else believes in them first."
Jayden (pictured,top) also received her certificate on Thursday, alongside her link worker, Louise. Jayden said:
“I was my own enemy and I wasn’t in a good place when I first got involved with Aspire. I moved into their accommodation and although I didn’t always stick with it, me and Louise have always been in contact. I’ve now moved to Southampton and I’m looking for work. I have some health issues, but Louise is still supporting me. Like Ella said, I think they believed in me before I did. They’ve made me into the person I am now.”
