A FORMER student of More House School, Frensham, was one of 15 top achievers to receive a special award at a ceremony hosted by super car manufacturer McLaren.

James Crosson was one of 15 award winners to be recognised for the contributions they made as members of the GASP Motor Project programmes, the charitable scheme founded to give students who often find classroom learning a struggle the opportunity to blossom working in teams on practical challenges.

James, who is now taking a City and Guilds course in agriculture and machinery maintenance at Brinsbury College, was presented with the Progression into Training Award by GASP patron and Dunsfold Park chief executive Jim McAllister.

A pillar of the GASP evening sessions for two years, working on the Greenpower electric kit car project, he also nominated GASP as his school’s fundraising charity credited the charity for helping him gain a college place.

“James was fantastic,” GASP chairman Sally Varah said. “He was a real motivator and has been so generous to us. We received £650 from the school’s Easter fair. They all had a wonderful time at McLaren, it was the experience of a lifetime.

“This awards event is the GASP equivalent of a school prize giving and so the award recipients should all feel very pleased with themselves.

“Thanks are due to those young students who have won awards for their hard work and enthusiasm and for giving our charity the satisfaction of knowing that what we do at GASP really is helping them to enjoy learning and to realise all sorts of talents they may never have dreamed they had and which will help them to progress in life.”

The awards were presented by GASP sponsors, supporters and stakeholders, including the High Sheriff of Surrey and the chairman and chief executive of Surrey County Council.

Surrey County Council chief executive David McNulty said: “I didn’t realise quite how inspiring this evening would be. GASP stands out because of the impact it has on individual young people’s lives. You can almost touch the change in them.

“Every time I come into contact with GASP there is another tweak, another improvement in their programmes as they listen to feedback from the students.

“It’s amazing that McLaren hosts this event for a little charity like GASP but it actually mirrors the key elements of McLaren - they have a shared ethos and I hope that link continues year on year.”

GASP Motor Project worked with almost 200 young people during the academic year 2015 to 2016 and selected the very best students to win the top awards. After the presentations, the prizewinners and their guests enjoyed a boulevard tour of the McLaren Technology and Production Centre and were photographed with one of the latest McLaren Formula One cars.

“As a small charity, GASP is immensely grateful to McLaren for championing our work, and for this global giant’s willingness and enthusiasm to recognise and reward our young award winners in this way,” GASP chief executive Henry Curwen said.

“Along the way at GASP, students also learn a whole range of other things, we call them life skills. The awards event not only recognises motor engineering skills development, and progression into the trade, it also rewards enthusiasm to learn, perseverance, and total engagement. We acknowledge those who have shown a positive attitude to learning, who have been a role model to their peers, and a champion for GASP itself.”