Elevate: giving young people a fresh start

Our latest charitable community programme Elevate supports young people in Barrow-in-Furness who are failing to attend school.

Missing a few days of school here and there may not seem a big deal, but following successive lockdowns and the closure of schools, it is more important than ever that disaffected young people are encouraged to keep their attendance up.

Our new programme, Elevate, in Barrow-in-Furness, does exactly this. Through group activities and weekly one-to-one catch ups, we are working with vulnerable young people identified at being at risk of dropping out of school altogether and possibly developing into young offenders. The programme is designed to help them see the longer term consequences of their actions and support them in making better life choices.

From Friday trips to Barrow Fire station, Kendal Climbing Wall and Horizon Studios, to a tribute visit to The Knife Angel sculpture, the programme uses a blend of creative activities, outdoor experiences, and individual learning sessions, to gradually influence beliefs, attitudes and behaviours for long lasting positive change.

The group also took part in a regional artistic competition to raise awareness of the dangers of knife crime and two won prizes for their creative contributions.

One participant told Brathay Delivery Manager, Sarah Cubiss:

This is my chance for a fresh start, nobody knows me or what I was like at school. I'm going to make the effort and get myself a job.