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YS LutonYoung people who are disengaged from school are at a high risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). Youthscape is committed to supporting these young people to ensure they break destructive patterns, recognise their own potential, and raise their aspirations.
Disengagement from school can take on many forms. For some it’s deteriorating behaviour, for a few it’s playing truant, and for others it's becoming withdrawn lacking motivation and engagement with school work.
The causes are also diverse, but often lie outside of school: a disrupted or chaotic family life, the negative influence of peers, or the lure of crime and gangs. Sometimes it’s a loss of confidence and belief in the point of education – which itself is often a loss of confidence and belief in themselves.
The consequences of disengagement are stark and can have life-long impact. GCSE outcomes may be poor, which in turn may lead to a higher risk of long-term unemployment. Research also indicates that young people who become NEET are at greater risk of criminal and sexual exploitation and gang involvement, which may lead to engagement with the criminal justice system. It is therefore important to act early and aim to reengage young people before they enter their GCSE years.
Youthscape run two NEET prevention projects for Year 9 students.
Compass is for male and female students at risk of disengagement due to behaviour struggles and low aspirations.
Fearless is for female students at risk of disengagement due to their vulnerability to sexual exploitation.
Compass
Compass is a bold intervention programme that seeks out those most at-risk and works to change their life trajectory. This six-session programme, run across six-weeks at Youthscape's building in Luton Town Centre, works with those in Year 9, at a decisive time before their GCSE’s begin, giving them practical tools to break destructive patterns and regulate their emotions, a safe space in which to be listened to, tools to help them set goals, and an empowering boost to their self-esteem. Compass also exposes students to different vocational opportunities which aim to raise their aspirations.
Compass runs a new programme each term, with a mixed-school group of between 10-15 students. Each day follows a specific theme and a similar structure.
Morning sessions involve group work, one-to-one sessions, therapeutic exercises, open discussion and confidence-building activities. Specific areas explored include facing up to family difficulties, communicating effectively with adults and peers, taking responsibility for your own actions, delaying gratification (working hard now for a benefit in the future), and developing goals.
Afternoon sessions often take place offsite, with vocational activities and opportunities to shadow local businesses a key part of the programme. By exposing students to a range of jobs and career opportunities that they are realistically able to access in the future, we aim to direct them towards positive aspiration.
We believe Compass can be a significant opportunity for young people to change the trajectory of their lives at a crucial point where it can make a huge difference. Young people participating in the programme will do better at GCSE’s – giving them greater options for the future.
“Before I started Compass, I didn’t listen and ignored other people, now I’m listening and respecting other people’s ideas.”
Who will benefit from the Compass programme?
Students in Year 9 who are:
- Disengaged from learning
- Have low aspirations
- Exhibit challenging behaviour
- Withdrawn and non-compliant
- Truant or have poor attendance
How does a student join compass?
- Schools identify young people who will benefit from the programme.
- Schools complete a referral form at www.youthscape.co.uk/refer.
- Our team will make contact with the school to discuss the referral.
- A member of our team meets the student. The purpose is to confirm they meet our eligibility requirements, learn more about them and their experiences and, most importantly, engage the student positively with the idea of participating in Compass.
- Parent/carer permission is obtained.
- Programmes commence normally in the first weeks of each academic term
Fearless
Young women who are supported in developing strong self-esteem and healthy relationships with others are less likely to be distrustful, abusive, manipulative, angry, and at risk of becoming NEET. This means they are also less likely to be sexually exploited and become involved in gangs or county lines.
Fearless is a 6 week course for young women in Year 9 who are demonstrating traits that may make them vulnerable to sexual exploitation and/or becoming NEET. Each session focuses on building a strong understanding of own self-worth and exploring what healthy relationships look like both online and in person. Morning activities include workshops, creative activities, and small group work, encouraging the young women to share lived experience and provide peer support to each other. Session content is trauma and gender-informed, and has been developed by our experienced team in partnership with Link to Change and Luton Sexual Health.
Afternoon activities take place offsite and enforce what has been taught in the morning sessions. Students are given opportunities to develop new skills and to grow in confidence in themselves and what they can achieve in life.
Who will benefit from the Fearless programme?
- Female students who are engaging in risky online behaviour. Such as engaging with strangers online, sexting, lacking awareness that such behaviour is risky etc.
- Female students who regularly demonstrate unhealthy relational patterns with friends and/or romantic interests. Such as having a new boyfriend/girlfriend every week, struggles to maintain friendships etc.
- Female students who exhibit poor understanding and decision making around romantic relationships.
Such as expressing interest is someone much older, lacking in understanding around consent or appropriate boundaries etc.
- Female students who have low levels of self-worth and confidence and who find it difficult to have a positive outlook on their lives and their future.
- Female students who staff recognise may be at risk of the above in the future.
How does a student join Fearless?
- Schools, the Youth Partnership Service and Luton Social Care identify young people who will benefit from the programme.
- Referrers complete a referral form in detail at www.youthscape.co.uk/refer.
- A member of the Fearless team visits the school to meet the referred student and carry out an initial assessment. The purpose is to confirm they meet our eligibility requirements, learn more about the student and their experiences and, importantly, engage the student positively with the idea of participating in Fearless, since the programme is voluntary.
- Parent/carer permission is obtained.
Getting advice and making a referral
If you have any further questions about our NEET prevention programmes, please contact Emily Croucher. To make a referral, complete a referral form for the young person.
