The head of National Citizen Service (NCS) in the West Midlands has thanked local schools for their support in promoting the innovative programme to young people in the region.
Read more: APM Programme Director, in letter to regional schools / colleges.
Prior to this, she led marketing communications teams in Australia and the UK as well as leading the global web marketing team, managing a team reaching from China to the West Coast of the US, publishing Cisco's 86 global websites in 40 languages.
Kathryn started working in CSR in 1999 creating a partnership for Cisco Australia with The Smith Family, a leading Australian NGO.
The partnership won the award for large business in the Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships in 2001.
On her return to the UK she volunteered as part of the Cisco UK & Ireland Civic Council, leading and participating in several successful CSR programmes.
Since late 2009 she has headed a programme to mentor offenders, in HMP Wandsworth and HMP Spring Hill, who are studying for Cisco networking qualifications in the Prison ICT Academy.
As a small pilot programme it has been highly successful and is now entering the next phase - seeking to scale through a network of Cisco channel partners.
Kathryn joined the EFFRR in 2011 seeking to represent the IT industry and the different models needed to engage those employers in recruiting ex-offender
ll
A whole host of schools have enthusiastically backed the government-funded NCS programme, open to all 15-17 year olds across England and Northern Ireland.
They include The de Ferrers Academy in Staffordshire, Weobley High School in Herefordshire and Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College in Worcestershire, where more than 80 students are set to experience the summer of a lifetime.
"NCS is a terrific programme and one we are very proud to be delivering across the Shropshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire regions," said Rob Houlston, NCS Operations Manager for APM who deliver services on behalf of the NCS Trust.
"We couldn't do that without the fantastic support of principles, head teachers, teachers and other staff who have offered their support in promoting the initiative at their college or school - we owe them a huge 'thank you'."
NCS teams have been visiting schools and colleges throughout the region, delivering assembly presentations, workshops and taster sessions designed to engage young people.
As well as continuing to nurture those existing relationships, the local team is keen to develop further relationships with those academic institutions yet to experience NCS.
"The programme is a genuinely amazing experience for young people and we are hugely passionate about talking to as many students as we can to give them the same level of opportunity."
Top referring schools by region (number of students signed-up to NCS this summer in brackets):
Worcestershire:
- Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College (82)
- North Bromsgrove High School (47)
- The De Montfort School (42)
Staffordshire:
- The de Ferrers Academy (69)
- Chase Terrace Technology College (63)
- Thomas Alleyne's High School (51)
Shropshire:
- The Marches School (48)
- Meole Brace School (41)
- The Corbet School Technology College (21)
Herefordshire:
- Weobley High School (37)
- The Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School (35)
- John Kyrle High School and Sixth Form Centre Academy (34)
Stoke-on-Trent:
- St Joseph's College (35)
- St Thomas More Catholic Academy (30)
- Trentham High School (23)
Telford and Wrekin:
- Telford Priory School (37)
- Ercall Wood Technology College (26)
- Hadley Learning Community (23)
NCS encourages young people to build lasting friendships and grow their aspirations by developing crucial skills for work and life.
The programme takes place across England and Northern Ireland this summer and is for no more than £50.
For more information visit www.ncsyes.co.uk.