Lord Sugar Apprentice sets up drawing school for a day in Greenwich
** News **
21 Aug 2012
Lord Sugar Apprentice, Gabrielle Omar, is setting up an architecture school for a day to help teenagers in Greenwich achieve their dream of becoming architects or designers.
The TV star is working with Tower Hamlets based youth charity Futureversity who have been commissioned by Greenwich Council to deliver a summer programme of activities for young people living in the borough. Futureversity programmes have been proven to raise aspirations, reduce youth crime, break down racial tensions and get unemployed young people off benefits and into work. Gabrielle is working with the charity to get more young people fulfilling their potential and considering jobs in the creative industries.
Ahead of the course, Cabinet Lead for Children & Young People, Cllr Jackie Smith said: ‘The Royal Borough of Greenwich is committed to providing young people with opportunities to learn new skills and express their creative talents. We welcome Gabrielle’s support in all that’s being achieved for young people in Greenwich this summer.’
29 year old Gabrielle was the first ever qualified architect to appear on the BBC reality television programme. The Apprentice star recently called for a ‘brand overhaul’ of the profession after the show ended earlier this year. The owner of the London-based practice Lolli & Square has also said recently that the public don’t know what architects do and that this common misconception has to be addressed if we are going to get more young people thinking of joining the profession and industry.
Gabrielle will be teaching ‘Drawing for Architecture & Design’ to a class of 13 – 19 year olds at Plumstead Manor School in Greenwich on Tuesday, 21 August 2012. The course is aimed at students planning to study architecture and spatial design.
Ahead of the class Gabrielle Omar said: ‘I’m teaching with Futureversity because I’m passionate about design and young people. When I look back I probably had very little confidence throughout my school years. I was very shy and never had the confidence to present my work to a teacher. That’s why Futureversity courses are so important - they can be a life-changing experience in reinforcing confidence, motivation and talent. Every part of the country should have schemes like this.’
Piloted in 1995, Futureversity is celebrating its seventeenth successive year pioneering new approaches to out-of-school learning that inspires young people to try something new or explore a possible career. Participants can choose from courses in investment banking to sports coaching and magazine production.
As well as in Greenwich, Futureversity is also running courses in Tower Hamlets, Ealing and Barnet this summer.
Ends
*** contact Victoria Silver on 07866 757 389 for more information or interviews ***
*** contact Andrew Stern for more information about The Royal Borough of Greenwich 020 8921 5043 ***
Notes for editors
1.) Futureversity delivers award-winning free courses and activities for 11-25 year olds to help them develop the skills and self-belief they need to make the most of their lives. Piloted as a crime prevention initiative in Tower Hamlets in 1995 (as Summer University), today the charity delivers learning opportunities to thousands of young people in partnership with businesses, industry professionals and local government. Last year (2010-2011) Futureversity courses were oversubscribed by five times. Futureversity patrons include two of its former students, music artist Dizzee Rascal and co-founder MP Rushanara Ali, plus film director Danny Boyle and Baroness Oona King.
3.) The Royal Borough of Greenwich commissioned Futureversity in 2012 to 2015.
2.) Gabrielle Omar spent 10 weeks as a candidate on this year’s BBC1 Apprentice where she was one of the top sales contestants. Gabrielle runs her own architectural practice, Lolli and Square, as well as a Creative agency, WeBeThree, which turns into a Gallery by night exhibiting artists, photographers and sculptors work to the public, sharing and educating new ideas in the creative world. She also has an online sweet company, DAILY-DOSE.me currently booming in sales.
