Providing young people with an equal chance in education
Aspire NI exists to work with children in Northern Ireland in poverty to help close the educational attainment gap that exists between rich and poor.
Aspire NI exists to work with children in Northern Ireland in poverty to help close the educational attainment gap that exists between rich and poor.
At Aspire, we believe that where a child is born shouldn’t dictate their future. We believe that each child deserves an equal opportunity to achieve in school.
The Educational Attainment Gap, is the the gap that exists between rich and poor. If you are born in the UK, into a low-income family, you are less likely to achieve in school. This means you will have fewer employment opportunities. This means the cycle will continue from generation to generation.
Aspire NI is a registered charity, in Northern Ireland with a mission to close the educational attainment gap that exists between rich and poor. Aspire's main programme, consists of 3 main services. Aspire Sessions, Aspire Academy and Camp Aspire. All these services are completely free of charge, to anyone on the Aspire programme.
Over the last 8 years at Aspire, the team has grown and we are able to provide far more now than we ever dreamed. Thanks to the kindness and generosity of our partners and givers. Unfortunately, over the last 8 years, poverty levels have risen exponentially. Today in 2024, 103,400 children in Northern Ireland are living in poverty. When we began, this figure was only at 69,000. So now, more than ever, young people need our help and support.
Aspire NI has been able to grow into various areas across Northern Ireland. Thanks
to the generous support of our monthly givers, corporate partners and funding.
Without this generous support, Aspire NI would be unable to expand. It is the goal of
Aspire NI, to continue to grow, across all of Northern Ireland. If you are a business leader,
Church leader, or would like to see more support in your town or city, in closing the
Educational attainment gap. Please consider partnering with Aspire NI and we will utilise
your funds, to continue to expand Aspire NI, across the country. Please, feel free, to reach
out to us directly, if you would like to explore this further.
Aspire NI exists to work with children in Northern Ireland
in poverty to help close the educational attainment gap
that exists between rich and poor.
Aspire NI as an organisation, consists mainly of 3 core elements. Aspire Sessions, Aspire Academy and Camp Aspire. Aspire NI’s main service, is the Aspire Programme. The Aspire programme consists of 3 components. Aspire Sessions, Aspire Academy and Camp Aspire. We are working in 25 schools, with over 350 young people, from low-income backgrounds.
We are turning up weekly, to provide Aspire Sessions. At Aspire Sessions, we create a supportive and helpful learning environment for young people. We play games, bring snacks and offer tutoring and support with the work they are doing currently in school.
We also spend time, sitting with young people and building relationships with them. Caring for them and trying to be there for them in a capacity that teachers often can’t provide, due to the size of the classes they typically work with. For at least an hour a week, they have supportive adults in a room, championing and believing in them.
Aspire NI's impact has been recognised across the UK. Aspire was a winner of the CSJ award in 2022, which recognises and honours the best grassroots charities fighting poverty across the UK. Aspire, has been on a mission, to close the educational attainment gap that exists between rich and poor for 8 years. There are currently, 103k young people living in poverty in Northern Ireland.
We have seen over the past 8 years, the impact the Aspire programme can have. 89% of pupils on the Aspire programme achieve grade C or above in at least 5 GCSE subjects. For young people, not on the Aspire programme and eligible for free school meals, this number is less than 50%.
Less than 50% of young people who are eligible for free
school meals across the country, achieve more than 5
GCSEs at grade C or above. However, 89% of young
people, on the Aspire programme, achieve 5 GCSEs at
C Grade or above.
89% Young people participating
in the Aspire Programme
achieve a grade C or above in more than five GCSE subjects. In contrast, fewer than 50% of those eligible for free school meals who are not on the Aspire programme attain the same level of academic achievement.
200+ Young people weekly take part in the Aspire program.
25+ Schools currently benefit weekly from the Aspire program.
We hope to provide our service to more schools.
