Carpenter Box collaborates with local high school through Dare to Dream programme
Colleagues from Carpenter Box have been proud to take part in the Dare to Dream programme with the Love Local Jobs Foundation, supporting students from Davison C of E High School for Girls across a series of inspiring and engaging sessions.
What is the Dare to Dream programme?
Dare to Dream gives students the chance to hear from inspiring role models, explore their own strengths and ambitions, and develop the confidence, life skills and workplace skills that will support them as they take their next steps.
We were delighted to be partnered with Davison C of E High School for Girls, alongside footballer Rhian Cleverly, to help deliver the programme and support the next generation. Across the sessions, students explored important themes including self-belief, resilience, employability, confidence, future goals and the steps they can take to reach their potential.
The school visits gave our volunteers the chance to work directly with students, sharing their own career journeys and experiences, answering questions and encouraging the mentees to think about the opportunities available to them. Each session built on the last, helping students reflect on their strengths, consider different paths for the future and develop the confidence to believe in what they can achieve.
Bringing the world of work to life
As part of the programme, the mentees also visited our Worthing office for a workplace session designed to give them a first-hand insight into a professional environment and the different roles within an accountancy firm.
The visit included a range of interactive activities designed to encourage teamwork, problem-solving and curiosity. One of the highlights was a fun balloon challenge, where students worked in teams to see who could build the strongest chair using balloons. The activity brought out plenty of creativity, communication and collaboration, as each group had to think carefully about their design, test their ideas and work together under time pressure.
Students also took part in a business case study discussion, which encouraged them to think about different perspectives and consider the pros and cons of different options. It was a great opportunity for the students to develop critical thinking skills and see how businesses weigh up choices in practice.
Another important part of the visit was an inspiring Q&A session with Meghan Clark from our tax team and Katie Sanders from StarBox. Meghan spoke about her journey from university to a career in tax, and the international tax work she now supports at Carpenter Box. Katie shared her experience of growing up in a family with strong links to finance, and how she has built her own career through her work with StarBox, our specialist accountancy service for influencers, content creators and businesses in the creator economy.
We also had the opportunity to show the students around the office and introduce them to the different teams at Carpenter Box. This gave them a better understanding of the variety of roles within the firm, from tax and audit to business advisory, practice support and specialist services such as StarBox. For many of the students, it was a valuable chance to see a professional workplace in action, meet people from across the business and understand how different teams contribute to supporting our clients.
Mentor reflections
We are proud to have supported such a valuable initiative and to have played a part in helping young people build confidence, raise their aspirations and take positive steps towards their future. It was fantastic to see so much enthusiasm from the students throughout the programme. They were ready to get involved, ask thoughtful questions and take in the Dare to Dream messages with real energy and openness. For our volunteers, the experience was incredibly rewarding and provided a valuable opportunity to support young people in our local community.
Quote from Rhian Cleverly, Programme Delivery Consultant, Love Local Jobs:
“Bringing together 250+ female students and five female mentors within a school and organisation that truly embody everything our Dare to Dream programme stands for has been incredibly inspiring. From strangers to strong relationships, we’ve encouraged one another to believe in ourselves, overcome challenges and become the best versions of ourselves, all while having a lot of fun along the way! It has been a genuine privilege to lead this all-female programme and work alongside both Carpenter Box and Davison CE High School. I sincerely hope this marks the beginning of a strong and lasting relationship, and I look forward to seeing the impact we can continue to make together.”
Quote from Liz Tarsey, Careers Leader, Davison CE High School for Girls:
“Working in partnership with Carpenter Box and the Love Local Jobs Foundation on the Dare to Dream programme has been a truly positive and inspiring experience for our students. The opportunity for our Year 9 students to engage with successful female mentors, have personalised and tailored conversations, and take part in meaningful workshops has had a lasting impact on their confidence, aspirations, and understanding of future career pathways. The Carpenter Box mentors were exceptional role models, speaking with honesty and authenticity, which really resonated with our students. The workplace visit and interactive sessions helped to bring learning to life, allowing students to see real-world opportunities and better understand the skills and resilience needed to succeed.“
A big thank you goes to the Love Local Jobs Foundation, Davison High School and Rhian Cleverly in helping to make the programme happen. A special well done also goes to our Carpenter Box volunteers: Amy Cooke, Annemarie Fern, Lisa Neale, Paisley Thomson and Rachael Tayler.