Stephen McPartland, Member of Parliament for Stevenage, was asked to surprise students from the Springboard programme, run by North Hertfordshire College. The event event was organised by the course's Team Leader, Chris Andrews to help the students develop confidence and learn how to react in challenging situations.

Stephen McPartland MP said, “I think Springboard is a fantastic organisation that is doing a great job for the students. It is helping them build their confidence. It was a really tough Q&A which is fantastic. It is a great experience for me and a great experience for them.”

Springboard is a specialist Further Education programme run by North Hertfordshire College for young people between the ages of 16 to 24 years who require additional support before progressing to further education or employment. It is tailored for students who are on the autistic spectrum and have additional social and emotional difficulties. The main purpose of Springboard is to build self-confidence, develop communication skills, improve independence both in and out of the classroom, and gain skills to use for employment.

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