Inspire, an independent charity delivering work-related learning and enterprise education programmes to young people in the boroughs of Hackney, Camden, Haringey and Islington, has received a generous donation from housebuilder, Barratt London. The developer is behind a number of developments across the capital, including Blackhorse View in Walthamstow as part of a joint venture with Transport for London.

Barratt London’s Community Fund sees the housebuilder donate £1,000 per month to a local charity or organisation working to improve the quality of life for those living in the local area. The recent donation to Inspire helped to refresh and strengthen the charity’s highly successful Work Week programme, a week-long schedule of employment and career-related activities that aims to develop and progress children’s awareness, knowledge and skills for the world of work and adult life. New resources helped to challenge gender and ethnicity stereotypes, allowing young people to better visualise themselves in growing industries in the City of London, such as construction and architecture.

Pam Reardon, Sales and Marketing Director for Barratt East London, comments: “We are proud to support the work of Inspire and recognise the important role the charity is playing in joining up the dots between education and employment, and empowering young people to reach their potential. As the country’s most recommended housebuilder, we are committed to creating a positive legacy. We want to lead the industry not just in the quality of the homes and developments we build, but also in our work with charities and good causes.”

Sue Maskrey, Inspire’s Chief Executive adds: “We would like to thank Barratt London for its generous donation to our Work Week programme. Children form stereotypes before the age of 6 years old, so ensuring we have practical activities that are visual, interactive and fun for ages 6 and under, is vital.”

Inspire was set up in 2004, with the aim of tackling generational unemployment across deprived areas of London. Even now, for many of the young people the charity works with, certain careers in the City of London can seem out of reach. In response to this, Inspire works to improve career prospects and ensure young people have access to role models from growing employment sectors that reflect their own diversity.