Aspirational Awards Update - July 2022

Posted 5th July 2022

As a charity NHP are always keen to develop and improve the offer to young people. We recognise that for many young people their goals and aspirations can be limited by financial restraints and without ‘the bank of Mum and Dad’ it can be impossible to do the thing that you have always wanted to do. With this in mind we worked closely with young people and in April launched our Aspirational Awards. Money was set aside by NHP and was added to by The Segelman Trust and our business partner Reconomy. With a pot of over £50,000 we invited young people to apply for funding to do something that they had always dreamed of and would have a lasting impact on their lives. A separate Entrepreneurial Award is funded by Reconomy and they offer not just finance but coaching and mentoring to young people wanting to set up their own business.
 
A panel made up of young people, representatives from Segelman, Reconomy and NHP was convened to consider all applications. We received some fantastic applications and money was awarded to meet a whole range of aspirations and dreams. These included funding to support a young person to set up exhibition spaces to enable vulnerable groups to show and sell their art; money to buy gardening equipment for a young person who had acquired an allotment and who has plans to open this up for young people in their House Project to use, and a trip to Peru for one young person to see birth family who he has never met.     
 
Three young people were successful in gaining an Entrepreneurial Award enabling two to develop beautician businesses and one young person to start a business producing 3D printer models. They have already started to receive mentoring and support and a trip is planned to meet Reconomy’s CEO, Paul Cox.
 
All our young people can do great things when supported in the right way. Thank you to Reconomy and Segelman for helping them to achieve their dreams.
 
Applications for the second round of Aspirational Awards will open in October 2022.