Twelve young people from secondary schools across Telford have completed Telford MP’s first Summer School, including a visit to 10 Downing Street and each receiving a laptop to support their future education and career ambitions.
The week-long programme was designed to build confidence, develop new skills and inspire the next generation. During the week, students learned how an MP’s office supports constituents, met organisations including Citizens Advice and Telford & Wrekin Council, explored careers in artificial intelligence and technology with Coforge and European Innovation, and took part in a debate in the Council Chamber hosted by Shaun Davies MP.
A visit to Westminster saw the group tour the Houses of Parliament before enjoying a special visit to 10 Downing Street. The trip was made possible thanks to Avanti West Coast, which generously sponsored rail travel for all 12 students.
At the end of the programme, each participant got to keep their laptops, donated by Coforge, ensuring they have the technology to continue developing their skills and supporting their education.
Ela Isik, aged 17 from Thomas Telford commented on behalf of the students to say: “This has been such a great experience. We’ve learnt so much about services and organisations we didn’t know about, including how an MP’s office works.
“The highlight was definitely visiting Number 10, an amazing opportunity that we’ll never forget. Many of us started the week stepping outside our comfort zones and meeting new people, but we’ve made new friends and grown in confidence along the way.
If this opportunity comes up again next year and you’re a young person in Telford, I’d 100% recommend getting involved. Get in touch with Shaun, you won’t regret it!”
Shaun Davies MP said: “This has been a really special week – investing in Telford’s next generation is one of my top priorities. I wanted this Summer School to give young people opportunities they might not otherwise experience – from debating in the Council Chamber to visiting Parliament and even stepping inside Number 10 Downing Street.
“The absolute icing on the cake was being able to make sure every student went home with their own laptop, thanks to the incredible generosity of Telford business Coforge. This is something that’s really personal to me. When I was getting ready to go to university, the local business I worked for bought me my own laptop. It made such a difference to my studies, and I’ve never forgotten that act of kindness. I hope these laptops will do the same for these young people, giving them the tools and confidence to continue learning and pursue their ambitions.”
Mark Robinson, Vice President at Coforge said: “I was proud to support Shaun’s Summer School initiative and to contribute laptops that will help empower young people as they learn, grow and explore new opportunities. Meeting the students was truly inspiring. Their enthusiasm, thoughtful questions and level of engagement highlighted the incredible potential within the group and it will be exciting to see what they achieve both during the programme and beyond.
“At Coforge, we are committed to investing in the communities where we live and work, so it was a privilege to support this initiative. A special thank you to John Speight for helping make this possible.”
The Summer School is part of Shaun Davies MP’s wider commitment to creating opportunities for young people. Alongside the programme, he has also recruited a paid intern from Telford, who will begin working in his constituency office in September.
