Back by popular demand, the Diane Modahl Sports Foundation (DMSF) careers fair with a difference, Building the Future, took place on Tuesday 7th March 2023 and Thursday 9th March 2023 at two Greater Manchester schools.
In 2019, four-time ex Olympian and Commonwealth champion and co-founder of The Diane Modahl Sports Foundation, Diane Modahl MBE, launched a hands-on careers fair with a difference. The event offered practical opportunities for young people to gain invaluable first-hand experience of a diverse range of industries, to help inform their choice of GCSE subjects and career pathways.
This now annual event has been a resounding success over the years and DMSF headed back to Levenshulme High School for Girls and Cedar Mount Academy during National Careers Week for Building the Future 2023, which was bigger and better than ever.
Last year DMSF joined forces with JD Foundation – JD Sports to give nearly 400 young attendees the exciting opportunity to experience the life of work alongside companies from the worlds of construction, digital media, medical services, public services, retail and creative industries.
In 2022, a host of new suppliers including 1111 Group – construction; 1st Enable – care specialists; No Fuss IT – information technology, and Reside Manchester – property, joined the list of exhibitors, and in 2023 the event welcomes new exhibitors NQ – talent and entertainment, Greater Manchester Police, LOFT – interior design and BoxCo – hospitality.
Building the Future provides young people with the practical opportunity to experience different industries. Many of the young people who attend are being educated in Pupil Referral Units, which means they are receiving their education outside of mainstream schools as they struggle to engage with the national curriculum.
These young people can miss out on the opportunity for work experience and can therefore often feel discouraged from seeking employment. The aim of this event is to engage young people with practically based exercises and demonstrations that provide an insight into different industries and raise their career expectations.
DMSF challenges and champions young people encouraging them to make the most of themselves in sport, education and within their communities.
The organisation engages participants in physical activity, sporting pathways, life-skills training and education. Facilitating enriching experiences, building confidence and opening doors to new opportunities. All elements of DMSF programmes have been designed to specifically target the personal development, behaviours and attitudes of young people.
Diane Modahl, CEO of DMSF, said: “We are keen to have a positive impact on young people across Greater Manchester and particularly those who may be struggling with conventional teaching but are promising individuals. The overwhelming feedback from our students and our corporate partners has been extremely positive. One of the biggest challenges our young people tell us they face is a lack of opportunity to access industries and practically experience what it means to work in it.
“Our partners understand that there are skills gaps within their industries, and they are driven to provide experiences that give our young people a positive focus and a drive to succeed, and we are delighted to once again partner with the JD Foundation – JD Sports for Building the Future 2023, to deliver practical experiences that give young people a realistic sense of career choices.”
Amanda Moretta, Assistant Head Teacher, Levenshume High School commented:
“Thanks for a fabulous day today. Feedback from students to staff across the school this afternoon has been amazing. Diane, the deputy headteacher that joined, was told by one student ‘this is the best thing you have ever done for us!’ Need we say anything more? The energy and enthusiasm from all of the staff to engage all of our students was palpable and even drawing in students on their way to other lessons!!! Huge thanks to everyone involved and especially to you guys for making this happen. Have a restful evening and best of luck for Thursday.”
