Aspire Oxfordshire’s Witney Youth Hub receives £15,000 to provide vital tuition for local young people facing marginalisation

Employment and housing charity Aspire Oxfordshire’s youth hub in Witney has received £15,000 to fund the provision of vital English and Maths tuition for young people facing marginalisation in West Oxfordshire. 

With thanks to fundraising from local businesses, clubs and supporters, Aspire’s youth hub – which helps young people to overcome homelessness and unemployment – will be able to provide tuition for up to 50 young people accessing their programme. This in turn will support them to attain key qualifications, enter the workforce in fulfilling roles of their choice, sustain secure tenancies and ultimately find long-term independence. 

To raise funds for its tuition programme, Aspire launched a crowdfunding page with the West Oxfordshire District Council. Two months later - and with thanks to both large and small pledges from supporters including the Witney Lions, The CAE Foundation, and West Oxfordshire District Council - the charity has hit its goal. 

Christina Rofique, Chief Programmes Officer at Aspire Oxfordshire, says: 

“We’re so grateful to our generous supporters for helping us to reach our £15,000 goal. Many of the young people accessing services at our Witney Hub have been forced to leave school at a young age and face multiple barriers to their education. Without English and Maths qualifications, it can become extremely hard for them to move on in life – be it into work, education or housing. By helping young people to get these qualifications, we’re giving them a fairer chance at realising their potential.” 

“If we can now take our total to £20,000 by 28th January, we would be able to cover exam fees for almost twice as many young clients - opening considerable doors for them.”  

To learn more about the project, visit the crowdfunding page.