IoD inspiration for Bristol primary school pupils

 

The first children to benefit from a partnership between the Institute of Directors (IoD) and the Bristol-based charity Ablaze will be meeting their latest addition to the classroom, businesswoman Vanessa Moon, next week.

 

Members of the Bristol branch of the IoD are committing themselves to supporting Ablaze throughout 2009. Ablaze works with Bristol school pupils to give them an inspiring boost in their life and learning skills.

Vanessa Moon, of Executive Recruitment firm Moon Consulting Ltd, will be visiting Parson Street Primary School in Bedminster Road, Bristol to work with the year 6 children on the My Future My Choice programme from Ablaze which focuses on careers, goals and how learning at school is related to skills for both life and work.

Vanessa said: "I am delighted to be working with Ablaze and the children of Parson Street Primary School. I see this as a real opportunity to inspire the next generation to follow their dreams as I did in setting up Moon consulting ten years ago. It is my pleasure to have been given this opportunity to talk about my experiences to these children."

Bristol branch chairman Nick Sturge said: "Well done to Vanessa for being the first of our members to step forward into this very worthwhile role. I hope many others will follow suit and offer their time and expertise as reading partners and mentors, and giving talks and support to teachers and heads.

"I very much some of the achievements of our members will inspire these youngsters to push themselves and succeed in whatever their chosen fields."

 In the school year 2007/8 Ablaze worked with 4,500 young people in Bristol schools, tapping into the skills of 65 businesses whose 800 volunteers donated 21,000 hours of their time. Volunteers work on a range of programmes with the children, from helping them with reading, maths and basic learning to mentoring and involving them in activities that support the curriculum. Other Ablaze partners include Bristol City Council, KPMG, Atkins, HSBC, GWE Business West, Rolls-Royce, Trimedia, GE and Deloitte

Roger Opie, CEO of Ablaze, commented:  "Working with IOD members opens up a vast and enthusuastic network of volunteers with rich experiences to share with the children.  It is vital that business works with schools to raise aspiration and skill levels with the workforce of 2020."

 For more about Ablaze go to http://www.ablazebristol.org

 

ENDS

Editors Notes:

 

For further information please contact Janet Kipling at KOR Communications on 01392 466733.  

 

Notes to editors

 

 

• The IoD (Institute of Directors) was founded in 1903 and obtained a Royal Charter in 1906. The IoD is a non-party political organisation with upwards of 52,000 members in the United Kingdom and overseas.  Membership includes directors from right across the business spectrum - from media to manufacturing, e-business to the public and voluntary sectors.  Members include CEOs of large corporations as well as entrepreneurial directors of start-up companies. 

 

• The IoD offers a wide range of business services which include business centre facilities (including ten UK regional centres [three in London, Bristol, Reading, Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester, Nottingham, Edinburgh and Belfast] and one each in Paris and Brussels), conferences, networking events, issues-led guides and literature, as well as free access to business information and advisory services and a comprehensive Information Centre. The IoD places great emphasis on director development and has established a certified qualification for directors - Chartered Director - as well as running specific board-level and director-level training and individual career mentoring programmes.