The Naz Legacy Foundation has launched a new Diversity Programme in partnership with the National Portrait Gallery to encourage more young people from deprived areas to visit galleries, museums and theatres.

Supported by The Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, National Portrait Gallery, Times Education Supplement and Mosaic, the programme will open up opportunities for those living in deprived areas across the UK to visit galleries like the National Portrait Gallery in order to improve their learning and help to raise their aspirations.

Students from Mosaic secondary schools Ernest Bevin, Stepney Green and Westminster Academy joined the high profile launch event held at the National Portrait Gallery.

Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP, Deputy Prime Minister, launched the programme and said: “I’m proud to support the Naz Legacy Foundation and it’s Diversity Programme. I believe that everyone, whatever their background or circumstances, should have the opportunity to rise as far and high as their talents and ambitions allow them.”

Hina Bokhari, daughter of Naz and Chair, Naz Legacy Foundation said: “From a young age my father would take my brother and I to visit galleries, museums and the theatre. This was an alien concept to most ethnic minority communities in those days and it helped broaden our horizons and enrich our education outside of the classroom. We hope the Diversity Programme enables young people who have never visited a cultural institution feel that everyone can make a positive contribution to society.”

Mosaic National Director, Jonathan Freeman said: “We are very proud to support The Naz Foundation in this exciting new initiative. This very much chimes with our own work to support young people and to promote social mobility. We look forward to being able to providethe young people we support from disadvantaged areas with opportunities to visit museums and galleries to increase their learning and raise their aspirations.”

The launch event was followed by a celebration event that took place at the Parliament’s Churchill Room and attended by 150 leading educationalists, philanthropists and dignitaries including Deputy Prime Minister Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP, Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP (Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government) and founding Mosaic Chair HRH Princess Badiya bint El Hassan of Jordan.