ACCESS Aspiration hosted a student prize giving and celebration event at the House of Commons.

Seema Kennedy MP, standing in for place of Robert Halfon MP, welcomed guests to the event and thanked all the businesses for their generous support and paid tribute to parents.

Student Speaker Myriam Saghir of London Academy School gave an up lifting speech, Access Alumni Kusai Rahal also formerly of London Academy, now studying Politics and International Relations at Queen Mary’s University, enthusiastically recounted how when he first signed up with Access Aspiration he did not believe the organisation could make good on its promise of a top-quality work placement, Rahal went to thank and praise Access Aspiration for providing him with not one but two incredible work placements as well as additional careers advice and industry insights.

Matches Fashion CEO, Ulric Jerome spoke engagingly to guests explaining how valuable and vital the work placement students are to Matches Fashion’s business. Jerome explained that for the partnership between Access Aspiration and Matches Fashion to succeed it had to be mutually beneficial, he went on to stress that the students play a vital role helping their business to see fresh perspectives.

The event was attended by 30 current students and their families and a further 5 alumni students acted as ushers. During the evening students and their families were able to meet their and other MPs including; Oliver Dowden MP for Hertsmere, Andy Slaughter MP for Hammersmith, Stephen Timms MP for East Ham, Rupa Huq MP for Ealing Central and Acton and Catherine West MP for Hornsey and Wood Green and a Shadow Foreign Office Minister.

Business supporters and sponsors in attendance included representatives from the Bank of England, Fenwick, Donmar Warehouse, Halpern PR, EE, Brick Court Chambers, Freshfields, RPM and Hardly ever worn it to name a very few.

Students were presented with certificates of excellence at work placement by Ulric Jerome. Thanks to Access 311 students from disadvantaged schools completed work placements during 2016, without Access these students would not have been presented the opportunity to take a work placement, gain vital industry insights nor knowledge of the breadth of career possibilities open to them.

Access works tirelessly to improve the lives of young people from disadvantaged schools in and around London, through their work they are able to facilitate social mobility and economic change.

Access would not be able to realise its ambitious yet fundamental work without its corporate partners, generous individuals, trusts & foundations, volunteers and businesses. A donation of just £10 buys a student lunch and travel to a work placement, £90 supports a student for one year and £5,000 will provide over 50 individual children the basic tools to achieve.Every £1 really can and does make a huge difference.

To find out more about Access please visit www.access-workplacements.org and to make a donation please call or text +44 (0)7891 544757.

Schools in attendance: