Lighting up a new path
We speak to Rose at their offices on Cottingham Road in Hull. The building sits in front of the University of Hull’s stunning business school and although they are an entirely separate entity, the setting makes for an appropriate reminder of the work they do.
“The aim of the charity,” Rose says. “Is to give children who are living in the most disadvantaged areas of Hull and East Riding opportunities that they otherwise would miss out on because of where they live.” Many of the children they meet have a similar story to Saffron and don’t have access to the opportunities that many children take for granted.
“Until they reach their teens, many won't leave their local area. And some of them don't know someone who works. They have no experience of the world of work. So we think, ‘How can those children aspire to be anything if they don't know what's out there?’ They might know jobs like doctor, teacher, police officer, or somebody who works in a supermarket. But if they don't want to do those jobs, they might think, work isn't for me.”
“We want to light up all the different paths that those children can take when they leave school. It could be founding their own business. It could be going into an apprenticeship or going to university. We want them to see that those things are available to them."
It's admirable and vital work and it’s helping more and more people each year. When Rose started working at the charity in 2013, they were working with 1800 children year. Now it’s 11,000 children a year.
They partner with schools to provide opportunities and trips. “For us to work with a school, 50% of the children need to be from disadvantaged backgrounds. We give those schools a menu of options, and they choose what they’d like to do.”
“They could come to London with us for the day, they could go to Edinburgh, they could go to a local business. We take the children out of school during school time and we give them that experience, because the schools can't do that themselves.”
Giving children great experiences since 1996
It was in a school setting that it all started. Rose explains that the charity was set up in 1996 by Dr John Buttrick whilst he was a teacher. He’d been running extracurricular activities for the children and “realised that it really had an impact on those children, on their confidence, and on their thoughts for their future.” He saw there was something in it.
The tragic death of his son, Tim, changed everything. “He decided to leave teaching altogether and set up Hull Children's University, to give children experiences they otherwise wouldn't have, in memory of his son.”
This vision has been carried through to today. The Hull and East Yorkshire branch of the charity has grown from strength to strength employing more members of staff including one of Rose’s colleagues Jess who took part in one of the very first programs. She’s said, “how much that meant to her as a child”.
There is arguably a greater need for their help than ever. Rose is excited about “reaching more children and providing them with even more exciting experiences.” Their trips to London can involve sleepovers in the Natural History Museum or on HMS Belfast and tours of the capital. “We top it off with a visit to the West End, to see a show, which for those children, many of whom have never been to a panto, is just amazing.”
But there’s possibility for much more and some of the most rewarding trips are to local businesses, such as Rix or Reckitts.
“We also bring children into businesses, who open their doors and the children spend a day there. They do a rotation of activities throughout the day, so they could go with the finance department, HR department, marketing department, and meet people doing those jobs, try hands on things and learn about that sector.”
“I'd like to get more businesses on board, opening their doors to our children, and hopefully inspiring their future workforce.”
Another way they can provide inspirational experiences is through their partnership with C4DI.