Treorchy Comprehensive School is celebrating after securing a £1,000 grant from Tesco, a reward for the achievements of 16-year-old pupil Aaron, who won the regional Tesco Education Award at The King’s Trust and TK Maxx & Homesense Awards.
A pupil's remarkable journey
Aaron, who has lived in care since the age of two, manages a rare genetic condition that causes developmental delays. He is also autistic, which impacts his communication and learning on a daily basis. Despite these challenges, his success on the school's 'Achieve' personal development programme earned him the recognition.
The flexible course, delivered in partnership with charity The King’s Trust, aims to help young people build confidence and improve attendance. Students collaborate on practical projects, such as growing fruit and vegetables to sell for charity.
Funding to expand support
The grant will enable the school to continue supporting pupils' confidence, wellbeing, and aspirations. Philippa Carroll, a teacher at Treorchy Comprehensive School, expressed gratitude: "We are incredibly grateful to Tesco for awarding this grant to Treorchy Comprehensive School. The funding will help us continue supporting pupils to build their confidence, wellbeing and aspirations for the future."
She added: "We are proud of everything Aaron has achieved and delighted that his success has resulted in this opportunity for the school. The grant will help us provide additional support and opportunities for our pupils, ensuring more young people can reach their full potential."
Aaron's own words
Aaron shared his experience: "The Achieve programme gave me a way to learn that worked for me. It helped me feel included and I didn’t feel like I was left behind. We started growing fruit and vegetables to sell, and we raised money for Velindre Cancer Centre. It felt good to be part of something that helped other people. Thank you, Tesco, for supporting the school with this grant and enabling it to help more young people like me who need a bit of extra help to grow and pursue their dreams."
Tesco and The King's Trust partnership
Tesco has collaborated with The King’s Trust since 2018 to support educational work and apprenticeships. Alison Cheung, UK & ROI People director at Tesco, said: "We’re delighted to be able to support young people with these grants from Tesco which will make a real difference, and provide them access to new programmes and facilities. We were proud to again partner with The King’s Trust Education Award this year, and massive congratulations to all the winners who are all working towards a brighter future."
Data shows that three in four young people helped by The King’s Trust move into work, training, or education, highlighting the impact of such initiatives.
