TWO South West Surrey students were revved up to win awards at the GASP Motor Project annual presentations in the McLaren Technology Centre at Woking.

Year nine pupil Sam Roebuck from Haslemere’s Woolmer Hill School, and Farnham Heath End student Summer Slingo were among those honoured at the ceremony at the Formula One racing giant’s HQ.

Their achievements and the impact of the GASP programmes impressed the guests of honour, who included Surrey Lord Lt Michael More-Molyneux and his wife Sarah, the High Sheriff, Dr Jim Glover, and the chairman of Surrey County Council, Antony Samuels.

GASP chairman Sally Varah, who describes it as “a little charity doing big things”, was presented with a cheque for £1,500 from Andy Beckett, president of Woking District Rotary Club.

The awards reflect the ethos of the GASP Motor Project, which gives students who often find classroom learning a struggle, the opportunity to blossom working in teams on practical challenges.

It was the fifth awards ceremony to be hosted for GASP by McLaren – a dream venue to show students what they can aspire to in the heart of Formala One Grand Prix racing innovation.

As GASP is about helping young people to develop their potential, there were also awards for GASP students with outstanding performance in industrial placements and for progressing to high education and a career in engineering.

McLaren director of brand experience Michael Edgecombe presented Sam with the award for Positive Attitude to Learning.

Thanks to generous repeat funding from the Geoff Herrington Foundation, GASP worked with year nine students – all boys – at Woolmer Hill School.

Participants really responded well to the GASP way of learning and Sam swiftly proved to be a highly-focused and reliable student, learning anything and everything he could from the supportive GASP mobile team during each session. 

Sam’s potential was recognised early on and he showed he is a natural to follow an engineering-based career in the future.

The AQA Unit Award he achieved was for assembling a petrol engine go-kart, but along the way the standout student learned many more skills.

Sally Borrows, of the Borrows Charitable Trust, presented Summer with the Perseverance Award.

Summer was one of six students – one girl among five boys – from Farnham Heath End School, who took part in a six-week course delivered by GASP mobile workshop in the 2018 spring term.

She gained an AQA award and now has a more positive feeling towards school. Her enjoyment and participation with GASP has improved her focus and determination towards other tasks.

Mr More-Molyneux said: “GASP gets better and better. To see these young people and hear what they have achieved is uplifting.

“McLaren is amazing for what they do for GASP and also for the community.”