University News Last updated 07 September 2022
Leaders in the education, private and public sectors have pledged to provide opportunities for young people, at a special summit held this week at Birmingham City University (BCU).
The summit, held at the University’s Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, was organised in the wake of the hugely successful Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Key figures at the event included Professor Peter Francis, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of BCU; Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council; and Professor Geoff Thompson MBE, Deputy Chair of the Commonwealth Games, as well as founder of the Youth Charter Charity and former five-time World Karate Champion.
At the event BCU signed up to the Youth Charter Ambassadors scroll, committing to working in partnership with the charity to offer opportunities for young people from unrepresented backgrounds through sports, arts and cultural programmes.
Professor Thompson said: “I’m delighted to be working with Birmingham City University – the institution has impressed me so much in terms of the transformative work it does, enabling those from underrepresented backgrounds to access higher education and other opportunities through its widening participation programmes.
“There is a genuine buzz and energy amongst BCU’s student population. The work students, staff and graduates did with the Commonwealth Games – including designing the official athletes’ medals – laid the foundation to ensure our legacy event was extraordinary and inspiring.
“I know that by working together with BCU, we can ensure a brighter future - and a legacy which will provide critical, meaningful impact to the lives of children from disadvantaged backgrounds, across the region and beyond.”
The summit provided a launchpad for leaders in education, private and public sectors to work collaboratively to build a lasting legacy following the close of the Commonwealth Games last month.
Professor Peter Francis, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at Birmingham City University, said: “We are delighted to have signed up to the Youth Charter, pledging our commitment to support the delivery of programmes that will provide young people with an opportunity to develop in life.
“This aim resonates with us, as the University for Birmingham, working to enable our students to transform their lives, and also to play a part in transforming society.
“We are really proud of the contributions BCU played in helping to ensure the Commonwealth Games was a phenomenal success – from our students and graduates who designed the official athletes’ medals, to our alumni performing at the opening and closing ceremonies, our Chancellor Sir Lenny Henry bringing the baton into Birmingham, and many contributions to the cultural programme.