Midlands based tech firm The Rigby Group’s Foundation is investing £3m in a project to improve the lives of disadvantaged young people.

The Inspiring Futures project is aimed at 11- to 25-year-olds from low-income backgrounds.

It involves ten schools and colleges in Birmingham partnering with charity run support services to improve skills for young people such as Maths and England attainment, their mental health, debating skills and preparing for work.

It is working alongside the WMCA and Birmingham City Council on the three-year project, with £1m of support on offer each year.

Charities offering support include Action Tutoring, Ahead Partnership, Debate Mate, Envision, Get Further, IntoUniversity, Place2Be, Skills Builder, Sutton Trust and Zero Gravity.

Over the course of the project The Rigby Foundation aims to support more than 1,000 young people.

“The financial support we are receiving from The Rigby Foundation will go a long way in ensuring that a number of our post 16 students will secure their Maths and English GCSEs so they can meet the conditions for gateway exams,” said Jacqueline Maher, deputy principal for South and City College, one of the schools involved.

“This opportunity further enables us to directly impact the life chances of students facing challenges in education.

“The initiative will support our students to reach their full potential and grow in confidence which will impact their overall studies now and in the future.”

Rigby Foundation chair Steve Rigby added: “Inspiring Futures’ is the result of many months of research, meetings with more than 30 potential charity partners, and mapping the secondary school systems alongside Birmingham City Council.

“It is our hope that our funding of this programme will allow disadvantaged, young people in Birmingham to strive and succeed in education, and to go on to sustainable and meaningful careers.”

---