Solicitors DWF Manchester hosted school staff, friends and family to share in the success of the 5 STAR Futures Class of 2016.
5 STAR Futures is DWF’s award-winning community engagement programme. It enables aspirational young people across the UK to unlock their potential by helping them increase their confidence; develop their employability skills; and become more work ready.
DWF’s Manchester office has worked with All Hallows RC in Salford for four years. Each year, otherwise shy pupils from Year 10 apply to be part of the 5 STAR Futures workshops led and supported by volunteers from right across the DWF business – from Partners to Paralegals, Personal Assistants to HR Advisors. Every workshop focuses on developing the pupils’ confidence and increasing their self-efficacy. By working through interactive sessions with our volunteer coaches, the pupils learn first-hand all about the skills they will need in further education and the workplace.
At the Awards Evening this year, the pupils gave a speech to a room of over 50 people, including their guests from home, DWF coaches and members of staff from All Hallows RC. Mr Hren, the Deputy Head Teacher at All Hallows RC, spoke at the Awards. He said: “We are immensely proud of the students who have taken part in the 5 STAR Futures programme over the last 4 years and no more so than this year’s group, who have fully embraced the opportunity and taken all that they can from it. A huge thank you to all those involved at DWF, you are making a difference in students’ educational lives and readiness for life outside of school”
Sean Monks, Senior Solicitor in DWF’s Commercial Insurance department, leads the programme. He said: “5 STAR Futures bridges the skills gap between leaving school and starting work in a way that is both meaningful and practical. The skills that the pupils learn and the confidence that they gain open up a new range of opportunities for them at an important stage in their progression. The pupils have really developed in confidence and their speeches at the Awards Evening this year showed that. From start to finish with the programme, the pupils have been great ambassadors for their school. We all wish them the very best in whatever they decide to do in the future, and I look forward to working with All Hallows RC again next year.”
DWF’s Diversity & Engagement Manager Gail Taylor gave the keynote address. She said: “I was very proud to be part of such a fantastic evening of celebration. The confidence of the pupils who stood in front of a room full of people to deliver their speeches was truly amazing. 5 STAR Futures continues to be an inspiring and extremely worthwhile programme as we continue to help to bridge the gap between school and work, helping to shape our business leaders of the future!”
Main Photo: (Central) Sean Monks (Senior Solicitor in DWF’s Commercial Insurance department) with All Hallows pupils
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