Excell3's 10th Year Celebrations

Excell3 operate two main projects in the UK, namely The National Black Boys Can Association, the UK’s leading independent organisation working to raise the aspirations and educational achievement of black boys, and the WISE project, working to raise the aspirations and achievements of under-achieving children regardless of race or gender, with a particular focus on white working class boys, Bangladeshi and Pakistani girls and “looked after” children. Excell3 is an approved Academy School sponsor by the Department for Children, Schools and Families. Excell3 chairperson and educational author Dr Cheron Byfield said ”We have developed strong working relationships with a number of schools, local authorities and government departments but our real success is seeing the young people we work with achieve beyond their and our expectations. Excell3 is their organisation, their success and their legacy to their peers. Excell3 students inspire me to do more for them daily”. Historian Dr Tony Talburt, Curriculum and Education advisor at Excell3 Ltd and former faculty member at the University of Birmingham said “Whilst Excell3’s international profile and national successes grow weekly, the Organisation holds a dear place for its home city of Birmingham.” In addition to the University of Birmingham Excell3 is also proud to partner with other top UK universities such as Oxford, Cambridge and Warwick.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE 10 YEARS MAKES! EXCELL3 CELEBRATES A DECADE OF OUTSTANDING EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AND SUCCESS. On Saturday 19th September 2009, Excell3 the education, training and development charity celebrated their 10th Year Anniversary in true style! The night of celebration, performances and awards was held at Birmingham Symphony Hall, considered as one of the most prestigious concert venues in the world. The evening began with a VIP reception in the Symphony Hall Executive Suite. Specially invited VIP guests including the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Dr Michael Wilkes and his wife Lady Mayoress Mrs Vivienne Wilkes, plus other Excell3 Stakeholders joined the Excell3 board members for a drinks reception with all guests retiring to the stunning auditorium to enjoy the world class acoustics on offer. Host international comedian Tony Hendriks, was joined by two fantastic co-hosts Zeerak Shahab and Robbie Denton. Both Zeerak and Robbie have been part of Excell3’s Wise and Black Boys Can Projects for a number of years. Zeerak Shahab is a pupil at a local Birmingham school; she arrived in England from Pakistan 6 years ago and spoke no English at all. Throughout the evening she charmed and stunned the 2000 strong audience with her wit and confidence, demonstrating a shining example of how Excell3 is making a difference to the lives of young people. The evening saw excellent performances by The Academy of Gospel Music Choir singing “The Birmingham Anthem”, “Blazin’ Squad”, gospel rapper “Witness”, the “Asian drummers” as well as singing and acting stars of the future. All acts in show of their support for Excell3’s work over the past decade. The pinnacle moment of the evening was having all 18 of the original ‘Black Boys Can’ boys walk on stage with Excell3’s Director, Dr Cheron Byfield. The mood in the auditorium was electric as she recognised that “it is down to this group of boys, who demanded the project continue, that we are now a national charity making a difference to the lives of children across the UK”.