A successful pilot scheme in Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire has led youth a charity to offer more cash-strapped schools an opportunity to support their students' future careers in a major expansion.

Action4Youth, which has bases in Aylesbury and Milton Keynes respectively, aims to help children and young adults improve their lives.

The new initiative will see headteachers of an additional 28 schools in Buckinghamshire, and 107 in Berkshire being offered The Inspiration Programme in the biggest education campaign by the charity.

The initiative aims to support the future development of around 10,000 students during the economic squeeze.

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The Inspiration Programme has been developed by the charity with educators, entrepreneurs and business people from multiple sectors, with the resulting year-long course enabling schools to meet the required Gatsby Benchmarks in providing career guidance. 

This comes after nearly 600 students at 10 schools are currently benefitting from the programme this academic year. 

Suzy Pykett, the current Vice Principal of Aylesbury Vale Academy explained: “From a teacher’s perspective it gives us a massive advantage in meeting the Gatsby Benchmarks. We get to upskill ourselves as well as our pupils.”

Jenifer Cameron, CEO of Action4Youth added: “We know from talking to young people and to headteachers just how important high-quality informative life experiences can be.

“The Inspiration Programme provides unique and unprecedented access to working life, arts and culture, police and criminal justice, community and environment as well as personal health and wellbeing.

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"It is an eye-opener and an inspiring opportunity for young people, enabling schools to continue supporting their students’ future in these tough economic times.” 

The Inspiration Programme can be delivered by school staff trained by Action4Youth with all teaching materials provided, or the charity can deliver the entire programme.  

For more details about The Inspiration Programme visit www.action4youth.org/the-inspiration-programme.