8th Jul 2019. AFPA Trust - Unlocking Potential Somerset
From yachts to youths
At the AFPA Trust summer asset finance industry and charity fund raising get-together, asset finance industry experts met at The Yacht London for the third time on American Independence Day with the sun shining, to meet, talk business, catch up and have fun after June quarter end.
Trustee of AFPA Trust Johnnie Halliday spoke on behalf of the Trust’s Chairman Stephen Bassett who sends his apologies for being abroad on holiday. Stephen has been working as a volunteer tirelessly on behalf of the industry to expand AFPA as the go-to charity association for our industry. The Trust’s website lists more events this year than ever before with many outside London including Birmingham in March, Leeds in June and Bristol in October, along with AFPA’s signature gathering in November on Beaujolais Nouveau day. The December Christmas Lunch at the IOD in conjunction with the Trust’s IAA Advisory partners is almost sold out.
Johnnie Halliday thanked Steve and Lali Dexter the venue and reception organiser, Vince O’Hanlon our raffle and sponsorship organiser, Vicky on the raffle and David Marsh who tirelessly sends out the Trust’s invitation emails and Aysha for her social media efforts, as well as sponsors Vitrx, Rivers Leasing, Global Lifecycle Management, DLL Group, Locke Lord and Catfoss Finance.
In his current role as High Sheriff of Somerset, Johnnie announced that AFPA is supporting Unlocking Potential Somerset. This is an initiative of past, present and future High Sheriffs to help young disadvantaged teenagers to aspire to achieve Brighter Futures. Often aged 13/14 they lack stable home lives and role models to follow, and do not understand the importance of their upcoming GCSE exams.
Johnnie Halliday explained, “We are launching an Insights to Apprenticeships programme this academic year starting in September with four Bridgwater and two Weston-Super-Mare schools. The aim of the program is to help youngsters build self-confidence, resilience and self-esteem. This is a proven programme within South Bristol and we are building on their expertise in conjunction with Weston and BTC Further and Higher Education colleges who are helping deliver the programme with their strong Apprenticeship courses and industry connections. Courses include public speaking training with a high impact, team building activity events and meeting employers and apprentices to help students visualise their potential vocational future career before they start their two year GCSE studies.”
Take a look at the website www.unlockingpotentialsomerset.org.uk if you want further information about this initiative.