The Sutton Trust launched its first five-year strategy at a prestigious 20th anniversary event for donors at Tate Britain last night.

The new strategy will span the next five years to 2022, continuing to build on the Trust’s three key areas of programmes, evidence-based research and policy advocacy, which have helped to put social mobility at the top of the political agenda.

The event also celebrated the Trust’s success over the last 20 years in delivering programmes to 25,000 young people from low and middle income backgrounds, and its pioneering research into social mobility which has raised awareness about barriers to climbing the social ladder.

Sir Peter Lampl (pictured), the Trust’s founder and chairman, thanked donors for their generosity at the Tate and was quizzed by BBC Radio 4’s Today presenter John Humphrys (pictured) on the Trust’s future plans.

In his foreword to the new strategy, Sir Peter says, “Over the coming years, we will step up our efforts to transform lives. We will also increase our impact on public attitudes and government policy. And we want to establish the Trust in perpetuity.”

Sutton Trust alumnus Bethany Gregory (pictured), delivered a speech outlining how the Trust helped her to open doors in her legal career. She invited donors at the event to continue supporting the Sutton Trust so that more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds like her could have access to opportunities. During her presentation she said, “At the age of 16 I joined the Trust’s Pathways to Law programme in Manchester. It was here that I found the support I needed to get into Oxford where I read Law.

But more than this: the Trust’s support continued throughout my undergraduate years. It opened doors, gave me confidence, and introduced me to the unfamiliar world of commercial law. It was this exposure that ultimately helped me to land a training contract at Allen & Overy. At age 16 in Stockport I never would have dreamt that this could be my workplace. You transformed my life and I know you’ll transform thousands more.”

The strategy will build on the Trust’s existing successes, but also develop new areas of work. The Trust has focused on university access for much of its work over the last 20 years, but the new strategy heralds a stronger focus on the workplace as a vehicle for social mobility.

Sutton Trust Chief Executive Dr Lee Elliot Major said, “The Sutton Trust has always been about improving access to education, whether universities or schools, but the evidence suggests that access to the workplace is just as important. So, access to the workplace will be a real priority for us for the next five years.”

Dr Elliot-Major also highlighted other top priorities for the Trust, “In terms of government advocacy, we’re also going improve the quality of and progression in apprenticeships which is a big issue in this country, but also improve essential life skills for young people.”

He invited donors to support the Trust’s ambitious plans and continuing efforts towards improving social mobility at a critical juncture. He highlighted the challenges facing young people at a time of increasing socio-economic uncertainty.