Improving Prospects: building the resilience of young people in the community

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The way we work with young people

Improving Prospects is Leap’s longest running community-based programme designed to give young people aged 15-21 an insight into the causes and consequences of conflict. By taking part in training, young people gain the practical skills and confidence to take control of the direction their lives are taking. They learn that conflict is inevitable but when managed well, it can be a powerful catalyst for change. We support young people’s engagement and progression by providing 1-2-1 support before, during and after training.

We take referrals from partners in the community like local councils, youth services, youth offending services and schools. You can also refer yourself onto the course. Please get in contact with the team to find out more, or use the referral form at the end of this page.

 

Impact of the programme

“Leap’s training has made me more aware of my own actions. I am more considerate of others, and I am softer as a person. ”

Case study: Amyn Ali

I grew up in Glasgow and had a challenging start to life where I got into drugs, violence and alcohol. I’d struggled with school and had been asked to leave after finishing my GCSEs. My relationship with my Mum was already strained and when I was 15 she asked me to leave home.

I moved between hostels and began to feel like an outcast because I was living in unfamiliar areas, had lost my family and friends and felt isolated. In order to survive I put on a ‘tough’ act. The following years were turbulent. I moved to Brighton with no money, no plan and slept on beaches, at shelters and in squats. Although I had stopped taking drugs I was still drinking as a form of escapism.

The change came when I saw a poster for creative workshops. When I arrived there was so much energy in the room. The young people were cool, creative and doing their own thing, whether it was dance, music or art. I’d never been inspired in that way before. It was there that I heard about Leap. I joined the course and, although I didn’t know it then, it was a huge turning point in my life. 

I met other people who were speaking openly about their experiences and for the first time I looked at myself and considered where my anger came from. I listened to the others and managed to reflect on my life and talk about it.

I graduated in 2012 but I still use the techniques I learned in the course. My relationship with my Mum improved and we are still strong today. I’ve also set up my own community health project and I’m looking at turning it into a business.

Leap evokes such a strong, emotional change, and it moved me more than anything else in my life. I’m still part of the Leap community. I’m now a young trainer and I get to continue learning every day. For me, the most important part of the work is that the negative experiences I used to hide away inside myself have now become something positive that I can use to help other young people change their lives. 

Want to know more? Get in touch with the team

Kieran Watt

Deputy Director for London Programmes

Sherée Prospere

Improving Prospects Project Worker

Chloe Thorogood

Improving Prospects Project Worker

Aaliyah Glasgow

Progression Routes Officer

Our Courses

Leadership course

The Leadership programme focuses on young people’s understanding and self-awareness of conflict – specifically in relation to choices and responsibility. This is done through group exercises, games and discussions with our expert trainers in a safe and friendly environment. The course can be delivered in partnership with external organisations.

  • A three-day self-leadership programme for young people aged 16-21
  • Supports young people to develop new responses to difficult situations and take responsibility for their actions
  • Kick starts engagement with their own personal development
  • Costs of training covered including travel and food
  • 1-2-1 support from Leap staff before, during and after the course
  • Delivered from our offices in Finsbury Park, London, or can be delivered at your location with groups of 12-16 young people 
Contact the team

Choice to Change

Choice to Change looks deeper into the concepts covered in the Leadership Course. Young people work together as a group to develop their understanding of conflict and put these concepts into practice. The course develops facilitation skills, giving young people the opportunity to deliver workshops to each other on topics covered during the programme.

  • A 10 day course, including a residential weekend, for young people aged 16-21
  • In depth exploration into young people’s understanding and self-awareness of conflict in relation to the choices they make
  • Free for participants with food and travel reimbursed 
  • 1-2-1 support from Leap staff before, during and after the course 
  • Delivered from our offices in Finsbury Park, London
Contact the team

1 day course

All our one day courses are delivered with partner organisations.

This course supports recruitment to our longer courses by providing an introduction to Leap and creating a pathway towards Leadership and Choice to Change. The course provides an introduction to Leap's conflict training with participants experiencing exercises and games from the Leadership and Choice to Change programmes. There is also the option for exercises to be delivered around one of the following modules:

  • Goal setting and decision making
  • Communication
  • Identity and Prejudice
Contact the team

Young Women's Work

Through group exercises, games and discussions facilitated by our expert team of trainers, we support positive relationship building and improved decision making by exploring issues of consent, choice and safety. Developed for young women, the course examines self-value by raising awareness and understanding of young women’s experiences as females.

This is a program for young women between 13 and 21 years old, who may be at risk or involved with gangs:

  • A three-day programme packed with group exercises, games and discussions
  • Supports young women to improve their sense of self-worth and belief in their value, qualities and abilities
  • Kick starts engagement with their own personal development
  • 1-2-1 support from Leap staff before and after the course
  • Can be delivered at your location, with groups of 5-10 young women
Contact the team

Progression Routes

After completing our programmes, all young graduates can join the Youth Involvement Group. This gives them an opportunity to stay in touch with those on their course as well as meet others. These sessions are often designed by the young people themselves, and provide training and opportunities to disccuss topics which are important to them, from relationships to public speaking. 

Members of the Youth Involvement Group can also get involved with Leap’s wider work, such as planning and attending events, becoming spokespeople or volunteering with us.

Our dedicated Progression Routes Officer supports graduates to continue developing after our courses, including CV writing and finding education, employment or training opportunities. We also build partnerships with other organisations, from radio stations to financial companies, to give graduates access to new experiences. 

Contact the team

Training young trainers

Leap's Training Young Trainers Programme is a six month course that provides our graduates aged between 17-25 the opportunity to be trained to deliver Leap workshops. The programme is run by experienced Leap trainers and participants gain a Level 3 OCN accreditation in 'designing and delivering a workshop'.

The course provides young people with expert training in planning workshops for different cohorts and audiences. This is done through a number of sessions at Leap, two residentials trips and the opportunity to observe Leap's experienced trainers.

On completion of the course participants will have an opportunity to apply to join Leap's training pool and become freelance trainers for Leap. They will also receive support from Leap's Progression Routes Officer to find other freelance opportunities.

Contact the team