Ambitions project launched in Southwark

Simon Hughes MP, student ambassadors and organisers at the Ambitions launch (c) University of Cambridge

Simon Hughes MP joined 25 gifted and talented young people from the London Borough of Southwark at Pembroke House this week at the launch of Ambitions, a new five-year project designed to help Southwark’s young people make the most of their potential.

Ambitions has been developed by Pembroke and St. Catharine’s Colleges, Cambridge, University College London and Excellence in Southwark. The 25 young participants,  nominated by their Southwark secondary schools, will develop their writing and presentation skills, build their confidence and learn more about the opportunities available to them in Higher Education through regular sessions in Southwark, at UCL and in Cambridge once a term for the next five years.

Also attending the launch at Pembroke House were three Southwark students now studying at the University of Cambridge and University College London. Daniel Hdidouan, Lily Denis and Sharon Narh took a night off from their studies and spent the evening talking to the young people about their experiences of studying at these two top Universities, hoping to encourage them to follow in their footsteps.

Both UCL and the University of Cambridge have a longstanding commitment to working with pupils from backgrounds with no experience of Higher Education in order to encourage them to fulfil their academic potential and support them in applying to university.

Caroline Burt, Admissions Tutor for Pembroke College, said: "Pembroke has been working in Southwark since the 1880s. We’re here for the long haul and this 5-year project shows how committed we are to supporting bright pupils from the state sector and helping them be the best that they can be."

Adam Smith, Senior Lecture at UCL, told the young participants "It’s really important to start thinking now about where you want to be in five years’ time. By then it might be too late and you might not have prepared yourself to do as well as you possibly can. A degree from Cambridge or UCL will definitely open up new opportunities for you, and equip you for jobs in all kinds of fields. Now is the time to start thinking about these things, and listening to your teachers who have identified you as bright and intellectually promising students.  It’s brilliant to see you here and I hope this programme will engage you over the next few years."

Guest of Honour at the launch, Simon Hughes MP spoke for 20 minutes to inspire the young people to make the most of their participation in the Ambitions project: "I’m really glad you’re all here," he said. "I hope that tonight is for all of you the beginning of a fantastic platform leap. You’ve heard of somebody called Tom Daley? The Olympic diver. Tonight for you guys is like being on that springboard. There are three ways you can go. You can walk backwards and not jump. You can just fall off and land with a big splash – not very beautiful. Or you can learn to dive, really well, and make the most of the opportunity of being on this springboard."

Pauline Hinchliffe, Excellence in Southwark said "We have many highly motivated and very able students in Southwark, and this is an exciting opportunity for some of them to work with two of the best universities in the country, over an extended period during a crucial period in their education.’’

Laura McGarty, Schools Liaison Officer for Pembroke and St. Catharine’s Colleges said "We hope that the student ambassadors from the two universities who attended the launch and will be working on the project will continue to inspire the participants in Ambitions to think about their own futures and to aim high."

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Photo, from left: Laura McGarty, Schools Liaison Officer for Pembroke and St Catharine’s Colleges;  Pauline Hinchliffe, Senior Consultant, Excellence in Southwark;  Lucie March, Senior Outreach Officer (Pre-16 Engagement) for UCL; Daniel Hdidouan, UCL Student Ambassador;  Simon Hughes MP; Lily Denis, Pembroke College Student Ambassador; Sharon Narh, UCL Student Ambassador;  Adam Smith, Senior Lecturer, UCL.