Pupils from a Wandsworth school are celebrating graduation from a youth intervention programme.

Young women from Chestnut Grove Academy, Chestnut Grove have graduated from a sports youth intervention programme to build aspirations and self-belief.

The twenty one graduates, all local residents aged 14 and 15, took part in a three month Street Elite Academy programme run by qualified sports coaches and mentors from the Change Foundation with support from the Berkeley Foundation.

The training sessions were based around team sports, helping to build confidence and teach valuable leadership and team working skills, with all of this year’s class have completed the course.

Many of the successful pupils have overcome challenges along the way, gaining a more positive outlook and setting themselves new education and career aspirations for the future.

Erin, Wandsworth Street Elite graduate said: “I feel much more confident about myself. At the beginning of the course we were asked to write a letter to ourselves that we would then read at the end. I feel that I have addressed all of the concerns I had and am really pleased with my personal development and progress.”

Wandsworth Council’s cabinet members for skills, Cllr Kim Caddy, visited the school to meet the girls, coaches and teachers involved and praised their “inspiring achievements”.

Cllr Kim Caddy said: “It’s inspiring to meet these talented young women and hear them talk about their futures with such energy. They have been empowered by their experience with Street Elite and with hard work they will go on to great things.

“I want to express my thanks to all of the team at Chestnut Grove Academy and all the partners who help make this programme happen. This partnership has been operating in the borough since 2013 and has already helped dozens of young people to believe in themselves and set their sights high.”

Find out more about Street Elite by visiting their website http://www.street-elite.org/.