The Bright Futures programme combines group coaching sessions with outdoor experiences and a residential to increase young people’s confidence and self-belief, and help them to develop life and employability skills, so that they can fulfil their full potential at school and beyond. 

This positive, skills building intervention is for young people disengaging or at risk of disengaging with education, or facing other social, family or emotional challenges and who are the hardest to reach. The residential experience takes them out of their comfort zone, exposing them to new challenges and giving them the skills to engage and learn from them, whilst the wrap around coaching / reflection sessions ensures that they apply this learning to tackle everyday challenges and fully engage in education. 

The coaching sessions will help to improve communication skills, raise aspirations and help young people begin mapping out their next steps to prepare for the transition to KS4. They will also be building a supportive community with their peers in school and from different areas of England. 

Wherever possible the focus of the coaching sessions (such as staying safe in the community or making positive relationships) is shared more widely in a whole year assembly or group prior to the coaching sessions with the Bright Futures cohort to ensure wider understanding and impact. 

The residential experience – including such things as hiking, canoeing and team building exercises – will give young people an opportunity to explore new environments and meet new people from across the country. Young people will learn about themselves, each other and the environments they explore, overcoming challenges that will give them the courage, skills, resilience and determination to prepare them to better be able to face life’s challenges when they return home.

I’ve enjoyed getting away from London life, spending time outdoors and pushing my boundaries. I’ve tried new things, learnt new skills and gotten away from 24/7 technology.

Zac, Bright Futures 2022