The Together Through Sport campaign has helped Foundation of Light harness the power of sport to inspire people to improve their lives by nurturing talent, providing career pathways and inspiring physical activity.
A collaboration between the North East's major sporting charities, supported by funding from North East Housing Partnership, the campaign has helped create opportunities for people like Kenneth Morris. An 18-year-old student on Foundation of Light's Study Programme, Kenneth has been one of the standout performers this academic year, making significant strides in his education and personal development.
The Study Programme provides an alternative education pathway for young people who face challenges in mainstream education. When Kenneth joined, he had no formal qualifications, having not completed Year 11 following a difficult end to his secondary school education.
Recognising his potential from the outset, Foundation of Light tutors worked to rebuild Kenneth's confidence, helping him recognise his own ability and what he could achieve.
Gradually, Kenneth began to engage more consistently in lessons, while forming positive friendships with his classmates. As his confidence grew, so too did his willingness to embrace new challenges.
His progress was particularly evident during the enterprise challenges delivered in partnership with the Harrison Foundation and Croda Foundation. Working alongside his friend Taylan, Kenneth demonstrated impressive commitment, creativity and determination throughout the projects.
In what was potentially the strongest field of presentations since the Harrison Challenge began, Kenneth and Taylan stood out from the competition. Their idea for a new mental health app impressed the judges, with the pair going a step further by designing a prototype of the app and its accompanying website.
Their hard work was rewarded as they were crowned winners of both the Harrison Challenge and the Croda Challenge, developing valuable transferable skills along the way, including presenting, interviewing and innovation.
Away from the enterprise challenges, Kenneth continued to apply himself to his studies and make progress towards his qualifications. During the academic year, he achieved his Level 2 English and Level 2 Maths, earning GCSE-equivalent qualifications. He has also successfully completed his Esports and Personal Growth courses to further build his CV.
Having made such significant progress during his time with Foundation of Light, Kenneth is now looking ahead to his next steps. He is set to return to mainstream college to continue his education, with ambitions of pursuing a career in the IT industry.
From arriving without formal qualifications to winning two enterprise challenges and planning his next steps in education, Kenneth's journey is a testament to what can be achieved when young people are given the right support and opportunities to fulfil their potential.
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