Villiers Park Educational Trust

Villiers Park and Roku are teaming up to inspire the next generation of leaders in STEM, tech and entertainment! Through our partnership, we’re opening doors for young people from under-represented backgrounds in the East of England💜 Last week, 15 students from The Hewett Academy in Norwich got a behind-the-scenes look at Roku’s Cambridge office! This immersive insight day offered students firsthand insights into careers in some of the world’s most innovative industries 📺🧑💻 Read more 🔗📰 https://lnkd.in/dtNFxGrT

After seven incredible years as a Progression Coach with Villiers Park, Julie Penn is embarking on an exciting new chapter: retirement! Julie has been an integral part of our Swindon and Wiltshire hub, helping young people develop the skills and confidence to achieve their goals. Now Julie is switching her coaching schedule for Norwegian fjords and well-deserved time with family, but she has left us with some advice for students which she has learnt over the years. "Follow your passion but remember that sometimes you may need to take a different path to get to where you want to be" We wish Julie all the best for her retirement and a huge thank you for all her hard work and dedication. Read more ➡️https://lnkd.in/e258psvQ

Today, we’re embracing the festive spirit! ❄️🎁✨ At Villiers Park, we’re dedicated to creating opportunities that empower young people to thrive. By supporting causes close to your heart this season, you’re helping to make a real difference, just like we strive to do every day with our work!

Introducing Josie, our Progression Coach in Cambridgeshire🙌 As our team continues to grow so do the areas in which we work, Josie joins us at an exciting time as we expand our programmes in Cambridgeshire. We are thrilled to welcome Josie back to Villiers Park, but this time as a colleague! In 2018 Josie attended a Biology residential which inspired her university studies. Now as a Progression Coach and alum, Josie is keen to give back to young people from under-represented backgrounds and help them to achieve their goals. Outside of work, Josie enjoys attending comedy gigs, doing paint-by-numbers and going on walks with her partner and their black Labrador, Dougie 🐶 Find out more about our team ➡️villierspark.org.uk/team And stay tuned to hear more about our work in Cambridgeshire!

With support from the NCS - National Citizen Service Trust and The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, our Enrichment Partnership Project (EPP) is empowering students to take the lead in shaping their school’s enrichment activities! From arts and technology to volunteering and sports, students are designing opportunities that are inclusive, inspiring, and tailored to their peers. Through motivational assemblies and collaborative workshops, we’re helping young people explore their passions while developing skills like leadership, communication and confidence. In January, our Involve Champions will step up as enrichment leaders, driving meaningful change in their schools. As we mark International Volunteer Day this week, we also want to thank the amazing volunteers who’ve shared their stories to inspire students along the way! Learn more about EPP ➡️https://lnkd.in/eh7MXRDK

Today, we celebrate the impact of volunteers and the power of giving back💙 At Villiers Park, we’re proud to partner with Sopra Steria to support young people to achieve their full potential and create meaningful opportunities for volunteers. From sharing insights and their own professional experience to mentoring students, Sopra Steria volunteers play a vital role in helping us break down barriers and broaden horizons for young people. Recently Sopra Steria volunteers welcomed our students to the Edinburgh office, giving them the chance to learn more about careers in STEM. Neil Anderson, Chief Technology Officer - Data and AI Practice, who volunteered on the day reflected on the experience: "Volunteering helps to make my role seem real by sharing what I do with future generations and learning about their perspectives." And earlier this month David Machin, Community Impact Specialist, volunteered at The Ferrers School as part of our Enrichment Partnership Pilot project. David shared his love of underwater photography with students to show how important hobbies and passions can be for developing key employability skills: “It was amazing to go to The Ferrer’s School, I never need an excuse to talk about my hobbies and how they have helped me but it was definitely new to see how sharing them can help the students start thinking about what interests them" A huge thank you to all the wonderful volunteers who give their time to join us in our mission to empower young people 🙌 #InternationalVolunteerDay

We’re thrilled to share the incredible progress of our partnership with Sopra Steria! Over the past two years, their support has transformed opportunities for over 1,200 young people, supporting them to discover new possibilities and make informed choices about their futures. From office insight days to financial support, this partnership is opening doors for young people. Just last week, Sopra Steria welcomed 11 Future Leaders to their offices in Edinburgh where students got the opportunity to meet colleagues to learn about their roles and careers in STEM more widely. As Sopra Steria and Villiers Park celebrate our new three-year principal partnership, we’re excited to continue to empower more young people together 🙌 Learn more in our Partnership Impact Report ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ewEd6CsK

We are delighted to have collaborated with The Brilliant Club and UPP Foundation on a briefing paper about supporting successful transitions from school and college to university. Our findings highlight the need for early personalised support, fostering belonging and cross-sector collaboration to help young people from under-represented backgrounds thrive at university and beyond. If you missed it, check out an overview here 👇

We were delighted to return to the University of Gloucestershire with 39 Year 10 students from Swindon and Wiltshire for an informative and inspiring insight day! Our students got the chance to explore the brilliant facilities at the university, talk with Student Ambassadors to learn more about student life and took part in subject taster sessions in Sports and Business Studies 📈🎾 We particularly enjoyed the Myth Busting workshop where students got to ask questions and get practical advice on everything from student finance to university accommodation. Our Future Leaders left with the information and confidence to think about university as an exciting option to consider for their future! A huge thank you to the University of Gloucestershire for hosting an amazing day and helping us broaden horizons for our young people 🙌

Brilliant to see students at New College Swindon enjoying taking part in the Trade Insight programme! What a brilliant opportunity to gain new skills and learn about the different trades 🏗️🧱👷♂️