The University of Nottingham

They were the stars of the launch. With a confidence and a clarity that belied their ages, Sophie and Rebecca addressed more than 100 academics, parents, teachers, media, politicians and local business people to tell them about their aspirations. Sophie wants to be a teacher and Rebecca has a place at university and is planning a career in family support and social work.

“Before I got involved with IntoUniversity I didn’t think I could pass my course, let alone go to uni, let alone get a job,” said Rebecca. “But now I feel I can do all that and be successful. Thanks to IntoUniversity I feel more confident, not only in myself but in my school work.”

Nottingham Potential is an ambitious programme to help some of the most deprived young people in the East Midlands to reach university. It represents a multimillion pound commitment to help break down the barriers to higher education.

Delivered by the University in partnership with education charity IntoUniversity, Nottingham Potential will provide new learning centres in the community to support pupils from the ages of seven to 18 years, including one-to-one support with homework, literacy and numeracy, coursework, exams, GCSE options and A-levels, careers advice and applications to university.

Sophie and Rebecca’s words did not go unnoticed by the man whose £2.1m philanthropic gift has turned Nottingham Potential into reality. As co-founder of Carphone Warehouse, Chairman of the David Ross Foundation and Co-Chair of Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, David Ross was impressed.

“I thought Sophie and Rebecca were fantastic. You can see how the programme has taken these two and given them a sense of direction and self-confidence. I look back on my education as something which was both formative and fun. But I am not sure that young people are getting the same level of engagement or happiness out of their education.

“The David Ross Foundation’s partnerships with schools in deprived areas has shown us that in order to raise young people’s aspirations and show them that a university education is a door which is open to them, then the earlier we start, the better.

“Talent and ability is abundant in these schools, and in many different fields. However, without the right kind of encouragement and support young people may not appreciate the opportunities that they can seize. Nottingham Potential is a hugely exciting, ambitious and, above all, important programme and one that I believe is genuinely pioneering.”

Nottingham Potential is a key project within the Nurturing Talent theme of Impact: the Nottingham Campaign. Visit: www.nottingham.ac.uk/NottinghamPotential.