The Inspire and Achieve Foundation held a charity lunch network event hosted and supported by West Nottinghamshire College, Mansfield.

The charity aims to help disadvantaged young people aged 16-24 into education, employment or training.
The event was held in the West Nottinghamshire College’s Refined restaurant and was attended by local businesses representatives and stakeholders – including The Bishop of Sherwood, the Rt Rev Tony Porter – to hear about the work the foundation does to help disadvantaged young people.

Inspire and Achieve, founded by college principal Dame Asha Khemka, delivers a range of programmes designed to support young people on their journey into employment including outreach activities such as boxing and football, mentoring and work coaching, and offers employability skills training.

Guests heard directly from some of the young people who are currently being supported by the charity and about the progress they have made to date.

Interested businesses were asked to support the charity in a number of ways including the provision of work placements for its growing number of trainees, or by making a donation.

Director of the foundation, Pippa Carter (pictured), said: “The issues affecting young people can be very diverse ranging from bullying, poor mental health to crime and teenage pregnancy, as well as sexual abuse, drug addiction and homelessness.

“I find it very inspiring to hear about the positive journeys and achievements these individuals make whilst being supported by our team.”

Anyone wishing to get involved with, or support the work of, the charity should visit www.inspireachieve.co.uk

Photographs were taken by Paul Cresswell, of ILTO Photography at www.iltophotography.co.uk who provided his services as a donation to the charity.