A new programme aimed at lifting the aspirations of children in care is to start in Bradford.

Three-quarters of all people in care finish school with no qualifications, according to educational organisation Aimhigher.

Fewer than one in every 100 go on to study at university. Latest figures show that there are 897 children in the district in the care of Bradford Council. Some 25 of them have been invited to join the Think Ahead programme.

Developed by Aimhigher Bradford, the programme will work to inspire confidence in young people to take what they love doing and build it into a career through higher education.

Young participants will take part in a series of activities which will include aspects of science, health and music. They will also get the chance to take part in outdoor activities in the summer.

The programme will be started by author Richard McCann, a motivational speaker whose mother Wilma McCann became the first victim of the Yorkshire Ripper, Bradford lorry driver Peter Sutcliffe.

Mr McCann was six at the time of his mother’s murder, but he has gone on to sell 400,000 copies of his book, Just a Boy: The True Story of a Stolen Childhood.

Bob Cryan, vice-chancellor of Huddersfield University, where the programme will be unveiled, will address the young audience alongside Mr McCann on Wednesday, February 24.

Alison Mearns, of Aimhigher Bradford, said: “Young people in care may lack confidence about what they can achieve and we want to help to increase their self-esteem, confidence and motivation.”

Bradford Council received 6,608 care referrals in the year ending June 13, 2009, a 23 per cent increase on the previous 12 months.