Building opportunities for young people from tough backgrounds to succeed is a driving force for the director of a UK-wide construction company who admits he was a “loose cannon” as a young man.
Tom Wraight is Regional Director for the Midlands for the Carey Group.
He’s committed to be part of the Capital Appeals Committee of leading regional charity Action4Youth in a bid to raise £1.4m to redevelop the regional outdoor and adventure education centre, The Caldecotte Xperience (TCX).
“I wasn’t a model child or pupil and I’m privileged to be in this position now only because people encouraged me and believed in me. This project and the other work that Action4Youth do made me want to get involved.”
Not only is he getting involved via the Appeals Committee but with his daughter Madison, a trainee quantity surveyor, he’s taking part in the charity’s educational Inspiration Programme, raising young people’s aspirations.
“ I walked out of school at 15 straight onto a building site but it’s hard now to get a job today. It can be really difficult for youngsters to work out which road they want to take. I want to give them hope, to be that person young people can approach and ask questions of. There’s an avenue for everyone out there.”
With Careys and their Foundation that gives back to the community, Tom and his colleagues are volunteering by laying wheelchair-friendly footpaths on the Caldecotte site, as well as are adopting Action4Youth as their 2024 charity of choice.
Tom knows environments inspire. He sees the plans for the redevelopment of TCX as necessary and inspiring:
“It is an amazing vision. The plans will absolutely lift the place. They will open it all up. It will be colourful. light, and with an increased capacity it will change so many more young people’s lives.”
He’s urging other businesses and their directors to get behind all the work of Action4Youth, supporting the redevelopment and sharing experiences with young people to inspire, encourage them to have goals and to achieve.
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