Pigeon Detectives in Huddersfield for inspirational StepUP event

Oct 14 2009 By Hazel Ettienne

Honley High School student Brendan McCue said the event had shown him “not to give up on anything.”

Royds Hall High School Year 11 student Lee Harrop added: “It shows what you can do with your life. I want to be a mechanic, but this event has shown me I can aspire to own and run my own garage.”

Ben Cooke from Rastrick High School wants to be a fashion designer and said the event has inspired him to continue with that aim.

The event, which started in Australia in 2002, is being run only for the second time in the UK and is funded by Yorkshire Forward.

Also speaking at the event are Deirdre Bounds, the former stand-up comedienne, world backpacker and teacher who set up ethical travel company, i-to-i.com and Guinness memory record breaker David Thomas.

There will also be Dragons Den winner Imran Hakim who secured £140,000 funding from two of the TV Dragons for his iTeddy invention which now turns over £11m and ‘Teenpreneur’ Sabirul Islam who, inspired by a teacher, founded a web design business aged just 14.

Shane McLucas, chief operating officer of the stepUP Foundation who is in Yorkshire for the event, said: “We’re going to have a dramatic impact on these young people. “We really can make a positive difference to their lives and inspire them about future possibilities, both in business and in life.”