The Attain Project
For young people leaving care
Young people leaving care are among the most vulnerable groups in our community. Most young people are in care because of neglect or abuse and their experience in the care system and often multiple placements means the consistency of relationship and support is sorely lacking.
The have lower than average educational attainment, substantially higher levels of mental health and self harm needs and are easy prey for exploitative and predatory individuals and gangs. These are our children!
Where does this project operate?
Attain currently provides services across Milton Keynes, and Buckinghamshire unitary authorities, Birmingham, Central Bedfordshire and in Hertfordshire. We expect to expand into South London and Manchester in the next 12 months.
Do you live within reach of our Attain Projects?
If so we could really do with your support for the Project.
Please listen to a message from our CEO Ron below.
Project outcomes
Personal development
A reduced number of YP classed as NEET (not in Education Employment or Training). (at least 40%)
50% of YP will engage or reengage with higher education, training and qualification.
Social and emotional
80% of YP will make positive friendships and increase their support networks and interpersonal skills.
90% of YP will show improved social and team-working skills by working together with their mentors and other beneficiaries
90% of YP will self-report an improvement in their mental health, feeling less isolated and more supported.
Employment
30% YP will participate in work experience placements., strengthening their CV and increasing their chances of employment.
100% of YP will gain skills to improve their employment prospects and future lives
30% or more of YP will be offered paid employment or apprenticeships , improving social and economic prospects
How it works
Most of our referrals come from the local authority/DWP and to some extent from schools, colleges and other care agencies.
Following an initial assessment we work with each young person to identify their personal ambitions and match appropriate volunteer mentors to help them attain that life plan over a two year period. We provide person-centred skills training and personal development as well as therapeutic inputs and well being sessions. We encourage self esteem and self-belief at all levels to overcome negative messaging from both heir past and sometimes their present.
Volunteer Mentors
The young people we support are leaving care and moving towards independence and a future without parents to help them The bank of Mum and Dad is unlikely to be there to assist and ongoing support is usually non-existent.
We recruit, train and deploy mentors whose job us to provide consistent support and help for up to two years. Each young person will be matched with up to three mentors (support team) and that may include people at older sibling or parent or grandparent age and with appropriate life experience, especially linked to that young persons needs and ambitions.
A typical week
There isn’t one! Mentors, guided and supported by our staff team, will work with the young people to help and support them. That could be about job interviews or application forms, housing, neighbour issues, bullying and depression or substance abuse or “just” a need for reassurance or a listening ear.
We provide weekly online and face to face skills development sessions as well as relationally based recreation and support groups around needs, sometimes bringing a number of young people together for help and training, sometimes on their own or virtually.
Most of all we are always there and wanting to assist and support. That’s enormous!
Progression and Review
All of the young people are working towards their own PATH plan and personal development programme.
We use a development web which is tailored to the group as a whole but also to each young person and measure progress and development across around 15—18 indices from money and budgeting skills to interview and employment skills, personal presentation and hygiene, self care and personal organisation and many more.
at least twice a year we have a full review of progress and refresh their ambitions and current situation so we can help keep the young person ion the roadmap they have been helped to design for themselves.
James Anderson
Its a real imperative of the project - and one of our strengths as an organisation - that we work in close collaboration with a wide range of other community agencies, businesses and organisations.
That helps build a platform for engagement and opportunity for our young people and adds to the sense of wider engagement with the project .
Moving On
Each of the young people will have their own journey. Some move on after a year; some fall off the project early and come back; some stay for two years and still need some level of support beyond that.
We work with each young person individually around their own exit strategy from the project and maintain contact once that happened to ensure the support we have provided is effective in their future lives.
A story from Attain
On the 21st of December, I was offered to be part of a charity called Transitions UK. I remember being very tired and withdrawn when I met Vanessa, I was sceptical and confused of what the charity was about and how exactly it’d work out. I was frightened to meet a stranger and even more scared of how I could possibly allow an individual to get to know me, as I hate talking about my life, the past of even sharing my goals in case I don’t achieve.
Now I’ve been part of Transitions UK for 5 months with my mentor Kay, who has not only inspired me but got me to believe in myself, motivate me and most importantly, Kay believes in me and my dreams. 5 months ago, I didn’t think going to university, let alone finishing 6th form was achievable…. Now thanks from the support of my mentor and Transitions UK charity, I am going to university to study social work. Thank you
-Attain young person