Aspire announced as sponsors of Merchants’ Academy Bright Sparks

The Bristol-based firm have pitched in to support the Community Foundation’s secondary school programme, which is aimed at young people who are at risk of making poor life choices

The 38-week programme works to best equip young people with the skills needed to succeed in school and in wider life. Last year saw more than 90% of young people earn a Level 1 qualification at the end of the programme. 

Craig Capel, community development manager at Bristol Rugby Community Foundation, said: “The support from Aspire Partnership has meant that the Bright Sparks programme has continued to deliver its great work in one of the most disadvantaged wards in Bristol.

"After meeting with Ian and the team, it was clear they had the same passion to make a positive change in young people’s lives and help where they can. We look forward to exploring further how Aspire can influence the outcomes of the Bright Sparks programme.”

Ian Larthe de Langladure, Partner at Aspire, said: “We’ve been supporters of Bristol Rugby for a number of years and more recently have been able to support the Break the Cycle fundraising event for the Bristol Rugby Community Foundation.”

“This involvement has given us an insight to the work of the Foundation and has led us to focus the support that we can offer via the Community Foundation into the Bright Sparks programme. This is an excellent program which will have a positive effect on young people.

“The young people that the Bright Sparks programme is looking to engage with are in the formative years of their school career and already on the cusp of making poor choices and suffering the consequences of these decisions.

“Intervening at this point to help them gain confidence and achieving a qualification could be the making of them. The values of the programme – teamwork, communication, perseverance – sit well with our values.

“In years to come they could be ‘successful in business’ and that’s exciting. That’s why Aspire support the Bright Sparks programme.”

To find out more about Bristol Rugby Community Foundation or Bright Sparks, click here or email ccapel@bristolrugby.co.uk.