Aspire programme rounds off opening summer of success

With one summer of action and over 50 students reached already, Saints social inclusion manager Jordan Letts believes the Foundation’s new Aspire programme is set to grow year on year at Franklin’s Gardens.

Over the course of five weeks during the summer holidays, the Aspire programme saw Saints Foundation workers help to give children from local schools and colleges new opportunities to learn, have fun and build valuable social skills.

The summer initiative could not have run without vital funding provided by both Portman Asset Finance and Boost Trampoline Parks, which enabled the Foundation to include 53 students on the programme in its very first year.

Giving the youngsters an insight into what constitutes a fun and active lifestyle, the delivery of the programme included trips to Riverside Hub, Hullabaloo, Cineworld, Boost Trampoline Parks, Goals and Laser Zone.

Professional yoga teacher Cat Meffan also joined the Aspire sessions to give the students an insight into how they could create a calm and peaceful mindset, while volunteers from Portman Asset Finance also gave up their own time to come and help with the delivery.

“Our primary aim in starting the Aspire scheme was to give children experiences during the summer they normally wouldn’t get, whilst also building their engagement and social skills as they spent time with other pupils and staff,” said Letts.

“Most if not all of these students may not have been fortunate enough to participate in these activities without Aspire.

“This was the Foundation’s first year of running the programme, and we would like to say a huge thank you to all who took part and got behind the idea to make it possible for us to do so – this especially applies to Portman Asset Finance and Boost Trampoline Parks, whose support of the Foundation continues to make an enormous difference.”

The Northampton Saints Foundation uses the values of Northampton RFC and the power of sport to Educate, Inspire and Support young people and their communities. For more information about how you can get involved, please CLICK HERE.