New year of AQA Unlocking Potential programme kicks-off in style!

With another academic year upon us, we’ve had a brilliant few weeks launching the AQA Unlocking Potential programme, now in its 15th year, and final year of our fantastic partnership with education charity, AQA.

Unlocking Potential is a transformational mentoring programme for students aged from 11-19 years of age, delivered in partnership between AQA and Dame Kelly Holmes Trust. The programme puts athletes' shoulder to shoulder with young people, aiming to raise student's aspirations and expectations for future life goals, equipping them with a winning mindset that’s ready to achieve. Whether that’s moving from school to Further Education, Further Education to Higher Education, or into training and employment, our athlete mentors will help students move forward with confidence.

Uniquely to this programme, Unlocking Potential incorporates three opportunities across the academic year for young people to come together, encouraging them to interact with students from other schools, and helping them feel connected to a much wider community of young people who are all experiencing similar challenges. To launch this year’s programme, students, teachers and Athlete Mentors gathered at regional locations in Milton Keynes, Manchester and Reading. Across the three events they took part in icebreaker games, getting to know each other and their athlete mentors, whoshared their own inspiring stories from the world of elite sport.

Overcoming nerves and embracing the challenge

Nerves and apprehension are pretty much the order of the day for the students taking part in the first in-person event of the AQA Unlocking Potential programme. Meeting new people and Dame Kelly Holmes Trust athlete mentors can be a daunting proposition but across all three locations we were so proud to watch the students, supported by their teachers, throwing themselves into activities.

The programme puts young people outside of their comfort zones, positively challenging and stretching them, which helps to increase their confidence, wellbeing, resilience and self-esteem. At our first event, in Milton Keynes schools were joined by Kelvin Batey (BMX World Champion), Anna Turney (Paralympic Alpine Skier and World Cup medal winner) and Su Miller and Liz Cann who between them have won Commonwealth Games medals and become English Champion in the sport of Badminton.

Our Senior Income and Generation Manager, Kellie Ormond commented on the day, saying: “As I watched the young people arrive, I could sense a mix of nerves and anticipation. Many were quiet and unsure of what to expect. But throughout the day, that uncertainty slowly gave way to laughter, teamwork, and genuine connection—all thanks to the athlete mentors and the carefully designed activities that encouraged everyone to step out of their comfort zones. By the end of the event, the same students who had arrived full of trepidation were leaving full of smiles and excitement about the journey ahead.

After Milton Keynes, the tour rolled onto Manchester and to the AQA offices where Henry Cookey, Charlotte Hartley, Jenny Wallwork, Paul Broadbent, Neil Danns, James Kirton were waiting for them. Having won multiple Commonwealth Games medals between them, young people at the Manchester event were delighted to meet these sportspeople who have performed at the highest level in Badminton, Hockey, swimming, Rugby League, Taekwondo and Skateboarding.

After some fun icebreaker games, Charlotte shared her story and experiences from the world of elite hockey. As well as their sporting achievements, our athlete mentor’s back stories are both relatable and inspirational for young people. Ordinary people, from ordinary backgrounds who have achieved so much – providing positive role models and helping young people to develop their own winning mind-set.

AQA Launch event in Milton Keynes

The final stop was Reading, and the incredible Town Hall building where schools from the south and west of England all embarked to spend a day with Liz Johnson, Paralympic Gold medallist swimmer, Hannah Beharry a former GB Champion Boxer and Rachael Latham a Paralympic swimmer who competed at the 2008 Beijing Games.

In the afternoon Hannah shared an inspiring story of courage and determination about how she progressed to the pinnacle of her sport despite numerous challenges and hurdles along the way.

Ellis Oliver, Dame Kelly Holmes Trust Programme and Athlete Manager said: “It was great to see the AQA Unlocking Potential programme kick off with lots of energy and positive interactions, across the three launch events.

“Students had the opportunity to meet their athlete mentors, other schools from their regional area and engage in some fun and inclusive activities. We also had chance to listen to several of our world class athlete mentors’ stories providing inspiration for the students, sharing the same successes and challenges many of the students themselves have encountered. All schools now have a series of school visits by their athlete as they prepare for the mid-point events where we look forward to hearing their fantastic social action project ideas,” continued Ellis.

Launch events remind us why the future is bright for the Unlocking Potential

Following the launch events, students will be working with their athlete mentors in their schools as they build up to the mid-point events where they will be sharing their ideas for the Social Action Project element of the programme – an opportunity for the young people to design and deliver a project which they feel will positively impact their local area. During their sessions, athlete mentors will work with young people on their confidence and self-esteem, helping them identify their own strengths and working on personal development plans.

Kellie put it right by saying: “Seeing young people grow in confidence in just one day, and witnessing the partnership between AQA, the Trust, and our athlete mentors, reinforced for me the incredible impact that these programmes can make for the young people we work with. I left feeling inspired and genuinely excited to see how these young people will continue to thrive in the months ahead.”

Following our successful 15-year partnership, AQA will be stepping away from the Unlocking Potential programme at the end of the academic year, as they refocus their charitable activity. We’re so proud of everything we have achieved together supporting many hundreds of young people across the UK through the programme and with this in mind, Dame Kelly Holmes Trust is actively exploring new funding partners to continue the positive impact of the programme.

Help us continue this brilliant opportunity for young people to unlock their full potential: Be the Champion in their Corner! To arrange a call with one of our team please contact fundraising@damekellyholmestrust.org