Why we’re here....

We’re on a mission to transform the life chances of 16-25 year-olds whose childhoods have been overshadowed by trauma, making them among the most vulnerable and marginalised in our communities, for whom growing up has been especially hard.

Their earliest memories may be of abuse, neglect and/or violence; emotional development and academic attainment may lag behind their peers, because the neurological impact of trauma leads to a heightened ‘fight, flight or freeze’ state where the child’s growing brain cannot learn, because their basic needs for safety have not been consistently met.

Few have had consistently positive relationships or role models. Many are, or have been, in care. Most will have experienced bullying, felt deeply misunderstood and/or been excluded from school. They face wider issues of youth loneliness and mental health, compounded by the pandemic, and are poorly-equipped to overcome them. Navigating the journey to becoming happy, healthy, safe and independent adults is a major challenge.

Without the right help, sustained through the crucial transitional years between childhood and adulthood, the all-too-common outcomes will be poor health, unemployment and poverty, relationship and family problems, exploitation, even criminality.

BUT even traumatised brains remain ‘plastic’ well beyond 16-18, and we continue to develop and change until neurological maturity around age 25. Holistic, individualised support centred on a high quality, sustained mentoring relationship, helps young people to build healthy boundaries and routines, improve relationships, find training and work experience opportunities, and build positive social networks.

Support through this key 16-25 life transition, addressing the practical challenges of life beyond school can improve mental health, build confidence, motivation and aspirations, resilience and independence – and, in turn, save vast amount of taxpayer funds across a lifetime.