Terry Harrison, April 2014

Fantastic": that is how Professor Winship of Nottingham University described the 'Aiming High' event held at the Nottingham Forest Football Club on 27th March 2014. Young people from a range of secondary schools in Nottingham were inspired by speeches from Damon Buffini, co-founder of Permira, and Patrick Derham, headmaster of Rubgy School. A number of key individuals from the Nottingham Community also attended the occasion.

The event was hosted by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Cllr Merlita Bryan, along with other dignitaries including Deputy Lieutenant, Mrs Veronica Pickering.

Patrick Derham gave a talk about his early life as a 12-year old living on board a ship with 40 other boys, sleeping in hammocks and following a strict routine of discipline. He told the audience how at 14 he had little education, but was lucky enough that someone decided to support his education after leaving life aboard the ship. Despite his lack of early education, he went on to attend Cambridge and never imagined that one day he would become headmaster of the world famous Rugby School.

Damon Buffini gave a short resume of his early life and emphasised that he grew up as a normal mischievious 14-year old. His mother always encouraged him to take opportunities that came his way. This began with work experience at British Gas in Leicester. He was later awarded a scholarship at Cambridge where he studied law. After deciding not to pursue a career in the legal system, he went into the field of finance and later studied at Harvard University. The main thrust of Damon Buffini's speech was to follow 10 key principles to success. These included: make things happen; look the part; think big; surround yourself with the people you enjoy and keep focused. At the end of the session, Damon Buffini invited questions from the audience, which were numerous and very encouraging.

Nigel Best, Head of Partnerships at Djanogly City Academy Nottingham expressed how important it was for young people of African heritage to witness the journeys of people like Damon Buffini and Patrick Derham who started out life as ordinary children who took up opportunities that would later transform their lives.

What best sums up the success of the occasion was the concluding speech from the Lord Mayor who incidently is the first Black woman to hold such an office in Nottingham. She said: "Today is the highlight of my year of office, hearing such inspirational stories and hoping that you, young people, will have been inspired to achieve your aspirations".

Albey Law-Smith, one of the founders of The Clarion Academy, concluded the event by telling the young people that "you have it within you to make a difference and to work hard to achieve this.