“We lift young people’s horizons through inspiration”

Guests at the Airmic Dinner raised £5,372 for Airimc’s charity, Renaissance Foundation. The charity supports young people overcome personal challenges and fulfil their potential by opening opportunities and investing in personal development.

Speaking to guests at the Airmic Dinner, one of the charity’s Trustees, Giles Drury, said, “We try to lift their horizons, and we do that through inspiration.”

The charity focuses on supporting young people with caring responsibilities as well as young patients, Drury said. “It’s about helping kids that have not had the greatest start in life. Sometimes their struggles are unseen.”

Ananya Chowdhury, a graduate of the charity’s three-year programme, gave an inspiring tribute to the charity, describing how it had supported her throughout her teenage years when her home situation and responsibilities as a young carer became an obstacle to her academic ambitions.

“When I was 15, I wanted to aim high academically, but it was hard given my home situation. The Renaissance Foundation showed they took my ambitions as seriously as I did,” she recalled.

She took part in their three-stage programme and managed to achieve her dream of studying history and economics at Oxford University and playing an integral role at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The Foundation continued to support her after she graduated during the height of the Covid pandemic when graduate opportunities were scarce, and she now works for a private equity firm.

“The charity has given me opportunities I never thought were possible,” she told Airmic guests.

In a change from previous years – when Airmic has supported a different charity each year – Airmic is establishing an ongoing relationship with Renaissance to drive a bigger impact and nurture deeper ties that extend beyond fundraising.

Members can donate to the charity here.