Pupils across Yorkshire who took part in the Primary School Programme, came together to attend a graduation event, marking their completion of the programme.

Three schools attended the event held at Leeds Trinity University, including Horton Grange Primary School, Carlton J.I & N Primary School and Field Lane J.I & N Primary School.

Pupils who took part in the programme, spoke at the event about the positive experience in front of influential business leaders, teachers, mentors and the event’s keynote speaker Fatima Patel. The programme, which supports young people, often from underprivileged backgrounds aims to help them achieve their full potential and overcome self-imposed barriers.

A mentor on the scheme, Saima Shafiq commented, “In the early stages of the programme I was astonished to hear how one pupil, Layla, had told her mother she would love to be a nursery worker but that she wasn’t clever enough and would have to work at River Island.

“When Layla’s mum told me what she had said I was angry and knew something had to change. I work in a Nursery, so arranged for Layla to come into the Nursery on work experience. Everyone else heard about this great idea and also wanted to do the work experience. We now have 12 children involved in work experience throughout the school. This would not have happened without Mosaic.”

Speaking about the experience Layla Karolia said “I am happy that I have had the chance to see how it feels to be a Nursery worker. I am now determined to be a Nursery worker. Thank you Mosaic!”

Sarah Khan-Bashir MBE, one of the founding members of Mosaic who attended the ceremony, said: “I’m so proud to be part of Mosaic and the Yorkshire region is very close to my heart because it was where my involvement with Mosaic began. It’s great to see the huge interest and success that all Mosaic’s programmes achieve, which is reflected in the numbers of young girls and boys who took part in the Primary School Programme.

“Every single person who has participated in the programme deserves the praise and recognition for all the time and effort they have devoted. Well done to all our mentors, girls and their mothers. And let us not forget the brilliant schools and their staff who do so much to make our programmes a success in the region”

Highlighting the impact of the programme on the pupils, another mentor, Henna Naz, commented, “Over the weeks I have seen each child’s personality shine; I have seen at first-hand how the confidence of some of the more shy children grow. The positive comments made by the children at the end of a session shows me as a mentor, that the mosaic mentoring scheme is impacting the children in all the right ways!”

Keynote speaker, Bradford born Fatima Patel, Managing Director of I and E Media and Managing Editor of Asian Sunday Newspaper, comments, “Attending this event has been a very uplifting experience for me, hearing the young pupils talk to the large crowd with such confidence and enthusiasm was a wonderful thing to be able to witness. Mosaic should be proud of the positive impact they are having on the next generation”.