Wimbledon Empowers Next Generation with Set for Success Event in East London

Set for Success is the Wimbledon Foundation’s flagship national programme run in partnership with Barclays and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust, helping young people build confidence, develop life skills and explore exciting future career opportunities.
On the 23rd June the Wimbledon Foundation, the official charity of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, hosted an Empowerment Event for the Set For Success programme, in East London, at Leyton Orient.

Held in the lead up to The Championships, the annual Empowerment Events take place across the country, giving young people the chance to step inside inspirational venues, meet local employers and hear first-hand about a wide range of career journeys and opportunities.
In Tower Hamlets, students aged 13-16 were also joined by European Champion boxer Hannah Beharry, Commonwealth Gold medallist gymnast Steve Frew, pro-footballer Matt Robinson and Paralympic footballer Alistair Patrick-Heselton, the region’s elite athlete mentors, who support participants throughout the Set for Success programme with mentoring sessions.

The Empowerment Events are an integral part of the Wimbledon Foundation’s Set for Success programme which is run in partnership with Barclays and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust. The two-year programme uses the power of sport to support young people at risk of not fulfilling their potential and develop their life and leadership skills and to build confidence.
Set for Success combines engaging workshops led by athlete mentors and teachers with sport and social action projects, encouraging young people to build confidence, strengthen leadership skills, and think positively about their futures.
Research has highlighted the programme’s significant impact, with every £1 invested generating £5.63 in social value during Year 1 delivery1. 95% of teachers said the programme helped them to feel more competent in supporting young people at risk not achieving their full potential. 82% of pupils reported improvements in teamwork, leadership and communication skills2.

Speaking on behalf of Set for Success, local athlete mentor Hannah Beharry said:
“Set for Success is a programme that genuinely transforms the way young people see themselves, their future and what they are capable of achieving. Watching that confidence grow throughout the programme is incredibly special.
Being a mentor has been such a rewarding experience. One of the most powerful parts of Set for Success is how it supports both students and schools together. It helps teachers better engage young people who may be struggling or feeling disconnected, while giving students access to honest, relatable guidance from people who understand the challenges they face.”

Paige Murphy, Head of the Wimbledon Foundation, said:
“Set for Success is about helping young people around the UK who may be at risk of not achieving their full potential for a variety of factors to identify future goals and develop the skills required to achieve their goals.

The Empowerment Events are an amazing opportunity for young people to find out about employment options in their local area and hear about the different roles and the paths people took to get there. 

We hope they leave feeling inspired by how much support and opportunity is around them.”

Speaking on behalf of Youth Sport Trust, Ali Oliver, CEO, said:
“Set for Success continues to show the extraordinary impact sport, mentoring and meaningful opportunities can have on young people who too often face barriers to fulfilling their potential.

Through the Empowerment Events and the sustained support of inspirational Athlete Mentors, we see young people grow in confidence, develop essential life skills and begin to believe in what they can achieve.
What inspires me most is watching participants take ownership of their journey using sport as a vehicle to lead, to connect with others, and to create positive change in their communities. It is thanks to highly engaged supporters like the Wimbledon Foundation and Barclays that these projects are possible.

Programmes like Set for Success remind us that when we invest in young people and surround them with the right support, they don’t just transform their own futures; they lift those around them too.”

Tom Corbett, Managing Director of Sponsorship and Client Experience at Barclays, said:
“Set for Success is a programme we are incredibly proud to be a part of at Barclays.

The programme demonstrates the power of sport to open doors, build confidence and equip young people with the skills they need for the future. The Empowerment Events bring this to life in a really tangible way – connecting students with employment opportunities, inspiring environments and role models who help them see what’s possible in their local area. 

It’s inspiring to see the impact the programme is having, and the ambition it is unlocking in young people across more than 100 schools in the UK.”

To find out more about the Set for Success initiative, please visit the website…