FARNHAM schoolboy Alex Harris has scooped a Skills Development Award at the GASP Motor Project awards ceremony at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking.

GASP works with young people – mostly aged 12 to 19 – who find it hard to thrive in education, for a range of reasons.

Using basic motor mechanics and practical engineering, the small charity runs customised programmes that re-engage them with the enjoyment and value of learning.

Alex, 15, is a year 11 pupil at The Abbey School for students with learning and additional needs, which has worked with GASP for a number of years both at the school and in the GASP workshop at Albury.

The confidence gained by The Abbey’s students from finding success at GASP leads on to other gains - for instance, a noticeable increase in reading age.

The course that Alex attended was delivered at school using the GASP Mobile unit. He really enjoyed the mechanical challenges provided by the vehicles and engines, and was interested and attentive, worked hard and over the course he was able to develop the skills he learned and transfer them to new tasks.

Alex also got to drive the go-karts at Dunsfold’s Top Gear track on the final session and was one of the few students who actually asked how to drive the kart, instead of just jumping into it and flooring the throttle. As a result, he was clearly the best driver at the end of the session, another skill learnt.

Alex was presented with his award by Peter Lee from the Peter Harrison Foundation, which provided the three-year funding that allowed GASP to pilot its successful ‘Can Do’ programme with special schools.

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

This was the fourth awards ceremony to be hosted for GASP by McLaren and the students were completely bowled over by the legendary racing cars and spotless futuristic workshops and production line.

The event is the high spot of the GASP year and the awards were presented by GASP sponsors, supporters and stakeholders including the vice-chancellor of the University of Surrey, the county’s Lord-Lieutenant and the chairman of Surrey County Council.

“The fact that McLaren hosted the GASP awards presentation event again this year is a real motivation for our charity,” said GASP chair Sally Varah.

“As well as Formula 1, the McLaren Group encompasses a number of high-tech, high-profile, niche companies operating at the highest level in their respective fields.

“We are immeasurably grateful to this world leading company for giving such a ringing endorsement of the life-changing programmes that GASP delivers to young people.”