Raising Aspirations - Summer Uni Easter Special

In partnership with Young Enterprise London, THSU invited groups of young people from all secondary schools in the Tower Hamlets Local Area Partnership (LAP) cluster 1 and 2 and recruit young people who were interested in learning about Business Enterprise and how to become successful in their life. Subsequently, 78 male and female Year 10 students, from five different schools, attended the four day programme.

For the first three days of the programme, students were based at the V&A Museum of Childhood where they worked in groups playing trading games, developing business models and creating prototypes using scrap material which were then presented to the whole group and a panel of judges.  Students also focussed on 'Learn to Earn' covering aspects of business enterprise skills but primarily orientated to personal development. Finally, teams worked competitively to design a Youth Centre to promote positive and healthy activities to young people.

On the final day the group was split into small groups and taken to Stubbers Adventure Centre for a day of active team work in raft building, 4x4 driving, and high rope walking.

Learning Outcomes:

The Students:

1. Received intense training from Young Enterprise London of how to start up their own business
2. Learned how to work as a team and independently
3. Reflected on how successful they can be in the future
4. Took part in presenting prototypes and ideas to a panel of judges
5. Participated in adventure and team building activities and increased self confidence
6. Received a better understanding on stocks and shares and how the market works

The Raising Aspirations project was a great success. It reached the aim of educating young people in Business Enterprise and to some degree broke down territorial warfare amongst some groups of people in different areas. As a whole, the programme increased confidence and understanding amongst the young people and gave them leadership skills to enhance their aspirations in the future.