Mayor of Ipswich joins in as Team celebrate

Created on Monday, 17 December 2012 06:51

The Mayor of Ipswich, Councillor Mary Blake joined ITFC Charitable Trust’s latest group of young people as they celebrated their graduation from Team 16. Eleven young people embarked upon a 12 week course held in partnership with the Prince’s Trust and ITFC Charitable Trust to engage them in a brighter future.  The Team programme, which includes a week’s residential at an outward bound-style training camp, is aimed at those aged between 16 – 25 years old who are looking for direction, motivation and help getting future employment. 

All the students each gave an individual presentation to the large crowd of family, friends and visitors who gathered in the Sir Bobby Robson suite here at Portman Road.  Many spoke of the challenges they’d overcome during the course including public speaking, confidence, making new friends and learning to work with others to form an effective team.  One of the highlights for many was the work they completed on a local Youth Centre.  The team not only renovated the exterior of the building to make it more welcoming, which involved working long hours outside in cold and damp conditions, Team 16 also fundraised  to a total of £600 to pay for the work to be done. 

Andy Crump Team Leader for ITFC Charitable Trust spoke warmly about the group saying

 “This is the first Team group I’ve had the pleasure of leading, you’ve all grown so much over the course and both I and my staff are extremely proud of each and every one of you.” He continued “Use this experience, to continue to set yourself goals, and to achieve those dreams we’ve helped you to re-ignite.”

CEO for ITFC Charitable Trust Terry Baxter also spoke of the continued support offered to each of the young people even after the course has concluded. Lynn Worrall from the Princes Trust thanked the Trust for their on-going support of young people. Every year the Trust, as a bonafide charity, works with over 60,000 young people from across Suffolk, helping to motivate and inspire them onto a form of further education to help them make that all important next step forward with their lives.

The Team programme is run by the Trust in conjunction with the Princes Trust and West Suffolk College.

For more information about ITFC Charitable Trust’s next Team programme contact Andy Crump on 01473 400576 Or email andy.crump@itfc.co.uk