At NCRC, we believe in helping people develop the skills they need to drive positive change in their communities. That commitment was on full display at the first-ever Aspirations Day at Trafford Hall, where almost 100 pupils got out of the classroom and into nature to explore green careers and develop essential life skills.
The recent Aspiration Day is part of the wider Shaping Brighter Futures Programme, a partnership between NCRC and subsidiaries across The Regenda Group. The project combines Positive Footprints’ award-winning Raising Aspirations programme, a classroom-based programme which helps pupils build self-belief, resilience, and an understanding of their strengths as they start thinking about their futures. With funding from fellow Regenda subsidiary, Ecogee, the pilot Aspirations Days are an opportunity to embed this learning at Grade II listed venue, Trafford Hall, and connect with nature, getting young people to really think about the positive impact they can have on the world around them.
Career insights were provided by environmentally focused businesses like Centrica’s Energy for Tomorrow and British Gas, who helped pupils understand energy use and renewable sources. Other organisations, including M&Y Maintenance and Construction, Ecogee and the North West Royal Town Planning Institute, shared their career journeys to inspire children about the diverse paths available to them.
Beyond careers, the day focused on outdoor education and wellbeing, key pillars of every NCRC programme. We partnered with YHA to deliver hands-on survival challenges where pupils learned map-reading, first aid, and rescue techniques, working together to build a stretcher, rescue a casualty, and create a fire and shelter for protection. These activities embraced the Five Ways to Wellbeing, reinforcing the importance of connecting, being active, taking notice, learning, and giving, all of which are vital for mental and physical health.
Kathryn Spenceley, NCRC Programme and Partnerships Lead says:
“It’s fantastic to work with Positive Footprints and to deliver these Aspirations Days. Through our work with young people, we’ve recognised the need to engage early about environmental issues so that it becomes more relevant to them as they grow up. The opportunity to embed what they’ve learned in class and introduce them to a range of environmentally focussed career opportunities is something that we hope will continue long beyond the year’s pilot.”
Josh Cliff, Head of Service at Positive Footprints, reflected on the impact of the collaboration:
“Aspirations Day really highlights the ability we have as a group of organisations to drive positive change for our communities. By coming together to share our skills and experiences across these four events, we hope to inspire hundreds of children to see green careers in their future and give them a school memory that will last a lifetime.”
Through experiences like Aspirations Day, NCRC is helping communities take charge of their futures, ensuring career-led education is engaging, accessible, and enriched with wellbeing-focused learning.
For more information on upcoming Aspirations Days and being a part of this exciting pilot, get in touch with our team.
📩 hello@the-ncrc.co.uk
