- Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante auctioned to support Centrepoint charity
- Over £1,000,000 raised to support the work of Centrepoint at 50th anniversary gala
- Young people from Centrepoint to complete apprenticeship at Aston Martin
18 November 2019, Gaydon, United Kingdom: Aston Martin has joined forces with Centrepoint to raise £1,000,000 to provide accommodation and support to homeless young people between the ages of 16 – 25. Centrepoint is the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity and last week the great and the good were at The Roundhouse to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this extraordinary cause.
Performances from Rita Ora and Duran Duran entertained guests who generously bid on auction prizes. One of these was an Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante with funds contributing to the overall success of the night. DBS Superleggera Volante is the most powerful convertible ever built by the British automotive manufacturer and its 5.2-litre V12 engine also produces 900Nm of torque, making it the company’s most potent production model to date.
The charity’s official patron The Duke of Cambridge attended along with Aston Martin’s President and Group CEO, Dr Andy Palmer. Both spoke with young people from Centrepoint who have just completed work placement at Aston Martin and who are due to start apprenticeships next year.
Aston Martin has a strong apprenticeship programme supported directly by Andy Palmer who began his own career as an apprentice. Speaking about Centrepoint and Aston Martin’s own apprenticeship offering, Palmer said: “Centrepoint is a great cause that gives young people the independence and opportunity they need to establish themselves at this critical phase of life.
“Apprenticeships are a great opportunity for people to develop their skills in a broad range of areas and it is a delight to have partnered and supported Centrepoint in furthering this cause. In 2018, Aston Martin welcomed 50 apprentices who will spend four years working and gaining a qualification.
“I personally believe in broadening access to apprenticeships and that is why my wife Hitomi and myself founded the Palmer Foundation in 2018. This privately-funded programme will create industrial apprenticeship opportunities for disadvantaged young people in the UK. As such it has been such a pleasure to work alongside Centrepoint in furthering this cause.”
Every year, Centrepoint provides essential support to 15,000 young people. To donate to the charity, please visit: https://centrepoint.org.uk/donate
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About Aston Martin Lagonda:
Aston Martin Lagonda is a luxury automotive group focused on the creation of exclusive cars and SUVs. The iconic Aston Martin brand fuses the latest technology, exceptional hand craftsmanship and timeless design to produce models including the Vantage, DB11, Rapide AMR and DBS Superleggera. The Lagonda brand will relaunch in 2021 as the world’s first luxury electric vehicle company. Based in Gaydon, England, Aston Martin Lagonda designs, creates and exports cars which are sold in 53 countries around the world.
Lagonda was founded in 1899 and Aston Martin in 1913. The two brands came together in 1947 when both were purchased by the late Sir David Brown. Under the leadership of Dr Andy Palmer and a new management team, the Group launched its Second Century Plan in 2015 to deliver sustainable long-term growth. The plan is underpinned by the introduction of seven new models including the DB11, new Vantage, DBS Superleggera and an SUV, as well as the development of a new manufacturing centre in St Athan, Wales.
