Helping change young lives

A high proportion of the young people accessing the programme come from challenging backgrounds in combination with other barriers including a history of offending (31%), homelessness (20%), are care leavers (15%), have a disability or mental health needs.

The programme helps young people overcome these barriers and develop essential skills, such as working in a team, effective communication, or managing feelings through challenging physical activities, as well as focussed support to help independent living or finding and keeping a job. One-to-One workers help young people to work out their own positive ambitions and how to achieve them, as well as addressing issues such as struggling to read and write.

In 2016 The Taylor Family Foundation pledged £500,000 over three years to support the Prince’s Trust Fairbridge programme in the North West, which has centres in Salford, Burnley and Bury. Over the past two years the three teams have worked with over 600 young people: 68% of these went on to achieve something positive (50% in education or training; 21% employed; 12% volunteering).

The programme starts with a five-day Access course, where the young people undertake a mix of group activities, including outdoor activities such as mountain biking, climbing, canoeing etc, as well as having one-to-one support to help them develop the skills and confidence they need to move forward.

More recently, the Foundation has donated £50,000 to the Prince’s Trust Achieve In-Centre programme, a new personal development programme, providing a unique offering for 11 to 16 year-olds; a practical approach to learning which supports young people to fulfil their potential.