We are pleased to announce our latest corporate partnership with FUEL, a community-focused technology company based in Portadown. Behind the scenes, FUEL has been giving back locally for years, particularly through education and support initiatives. FUEL chose to partner with Aspire because of our direct, in-school work with young people across the community who need support. They were particularly struck by the stark reality that fewer than 50% of students eligible for Free School Meals achieve five GCSEs at grade C or above, a figure that’s 24% lower than their more advantaged peers.
“Aspire NI’s mission aligns closely with our values, and we’re excited to support their incredible work, from mentoring programmes to after-school support for students who need it most.” Paul Trouton | CEO | FUEL
What this partnership means
Currently, we work with over 350 young people across 29 schools each week. Partnerships like this one enable us to better plan our finances and grow strategically.
The maths behind our model is simple: each staff member, with the support of volunteers, can work with 10–15 young people per school, and cover up to five schools per week. To grow our impact, we simply need more staff members working in more schools, supported by more volunteers. FUEL is committed to helping us do just that, reaching more young people who urgently need support.
With over 103,000 children living in relative poverty in Northern Ireland, the need is great. These children face significantly lower chances of academic success compared to their better-off peers. But with the backing of local businesses, we can continue expanding our reach and give more young people across Northern Ireland a fair and equal chance at success.
“Businesses hold a significant place in our communities. They have a unique ability to support work like ours and create real, lasting impact. We’re delighted to be partnering with FUEL to reach and support even more young people.”
Mark Knox | CEO | Aspire NI
The Results
We have the data to back up our impact, young people on the Aspire programme achieve GCSE results at a rate of 87%, compared to the national average of just 49% for students eligible for Free School Meals. It’s a clear sign that, together with our partners, we are helping to close the educational attainment gap.
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