A PROJECT aimed at establishing a permanent summer school and follow-up mentoring programme to boost skills for young people is entering its second year.

The Furness Future Leaders’ Academy was set in motion last summer by Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock, with the intention of providing young people with the leadership abilities that will be needed to steer the booming local economy of tomorrow.

Now the team behind his project has welcomed an agreement with energy firm and major local employer Centrica to come on board again as the principal sponsor following the highly successful summer school of 2015.

This year’s fundraising appeal has also been helped by generous contributions from local employers and organisations.

Among them are Cumbria County Council’s Barrow Local Committee and Health and Wellbeing Forum, INS, CGP Books and Francis C Scott Charitable Trust.

Once again, the academy is providing free places to nearly one hundred year 5 students, with a three-week programme in August at Furness College.

Jim Stoddard, deputy terminals manager at Centrica’s Barrow Gas Terminals, said: "Our team of apprentices, engineers and staff really enjoyed taking part in the inaugural Future Leaders Academy last year, when they helped teach the students about leadership and team building.

"We are delighted to return as principal sponsor of this year’s academy, and we can’t wait to open the children’s eyes to the opportunities on their doorstep to succeed in sectors like the energy industry."

The academy has also been boosted by the appointment of a joint team from Barrow Island Primary School and Victoria Academy, led by respected head teacher Janet Dixon to deliver the education aspect of the summer school.

They will be joined again by a skilled team from Cumbria Development Education Centre, who will deliver a programme of leadership training, centred around a community action project which the students design and undertake.

Mr Woodcock said: “It is fantastic news that a major local employer like Centrica has again agreed to come on board with our ambitious plans for the leaders academy – I want to sincerely thank them for their commitment, as well as all the other local employers who have

signed up.

"I’m also delighted to welcome Janet Dixon and the new team from Barrow Island - along with CDEC and Victoria Academy, I know they will ensure the academy continues to deliver a valuable, rewarding and fun programme for local young people.

"Tackling the gap in skills and ambition is a serious challenge if we are to ensure young Furness people can benefit from the high-tech economy that is emerging here – this academy can really help with that, and I’m so pleased that local employers and schools have come onboard so enthusiastically."