Cllr Jonathan Nunn, Assistant Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning and Heritage Champion, visited the Study Centre at the end of the May half-term programme, which he had also funded from his Councillor's empowerment fund.
Sixteen youngsters, primarily from the Wootton area of Northampton, spent the week taking part in a variety of exercises and activities in the Study Centre, based at the Saints' Franklin's Gardens home.
These activities are designed to build on and reinforce skills learnt at school, boosting self-esteem and encouraging willingness to engage with education, and Cllr Nunn observed their positive effects.
"It was tremendous to see how the youngsters were enthused by what they were doing," he commented. "It was obvious that they all had had a great week at the Study Centre, and in several cases their experience had been life-changing, bringing the children out of their shell and encouraging them to engage.
"I was also impressed by the outstanding organisation of Pete and the Study Centre team, and it's clear that they always put the youngsters' needs at the heart of what they do.
"In a time when services are being put under pressure it is great to see that a club like the Saints puts so much time and effort into their educational support programmes, and I am delighted to have seen my funds being put to such good use."
Study Centre manager Pete Austen thanked Cllr Nunn for his funding, and said that the
"We've had a good week with a cracking group of youngsters," he said. "They've engaged with all of the activities and all seemed to enjoy themselves. Hopefully they can take that enthusiasm back into school for the second half of the term and then into the future, too.
"I'd especially like to thank Cllr Nunn for his support, which was crucial in ensuring that this week's programme went ahead."
The Saints Study Centre runs a wide range of educational support programmes throughout the year, concentrating on improving literacy, numeracy and ICT, as well as improving students' personal and social skills and attitudes to learning.
To find out more about these programmes, and about how your company can help improve the life chances of youngsters from across Northampton and the surrounding area, visit www.saintsstudycentre.org or www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/community
