A catalogue of
transformational programmes
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Whole day for a whole year group
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3 powerful sessions around the barriers, mindset and the future
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Students come away feeling
confident, committing to tangible changes they need to make -
Perfect for a drop down day
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Follow up resources to support
beyond an initial day -
Use alone or part of a sustainable package
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Full day for all of Year 11
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Interactive sessions that will
challenge students to reflect on their mindset to the next few months, and the bigger picture -
Students feel more positive about the next few months, want to take advantage of support and have a better sense of direction for their future
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Can be used to tie in with mock
exams -
Follow up resources available
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Sustainable peer mentoring programme led by young people
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Input with at least two year groups
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Volunteers from an older year group become “heroes” role models and mentors for younger students
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Even the harder to reach and more vulnerable students take part
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Can be used with you existing programme or we can help you build one
Session 1 is the Comfort Zone in which the students reflect on the past helping them reflect on how they became the person they are. This session is a roller coaster as students are roaring with laughter one minute and deep in reflection the next minute.
Session 2 is the Stretch Zone when the students consider how the present could be so different if each person behaved differently. The activities are highly engaging as young people interact with others outside their normal friendship group.
Session 3 is the Panic Zone during which the young people imagine who they could be in the future, discussing dreams, hopes, goals and ambitions. The day is concluded when every student identifies and commits to making three positive changes to improve their future.
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To provide an opportunity for all students to reflect on their past and consider why and who they have become today.
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To provide a warm and psychologically safe environment for young people to express themselves about the struggles and challenges they have faced.
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To encourage the students to work collaboratively in small groups in order to present a positive social experience with students outside their friendship circles.
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To challenge young people to ask if and how they can make positive changes to improve their life chances.
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To inspire the students to aspire to a bigger and brighter future by encouraging them to consider and chase their dreams.
This programme has been designed to specifically resonate with the challenges faced by year 11 or year 13 students.
We are acutely aware of the situation final year students are in and the pressure they feel.
The Final Push, in a fresh and highly relevant way, helps students to express then rationalise their fears and worries. In an engaging & meaningful way the students are encouraged to reassess their priorities and set new & achievable goals. This course is a MUST to help motivate and inspire older students.
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Heroes Training helps the volunteer heroes discover the skills they will need to help make a difference to themselves and other people.
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We initially look at influencing factors and what attributes they will need to become successful. They will gain confidence in speaking in small groups, 1:1 etc.
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The surprise arrival of primary school students allows them to have an authentic leadership experience and be ready to support pupils in their own community.
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We provide resources for the heroes to help in tutor time, ongoing mentoring and, for example, running assemblies.
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Our partner charity, the heroes foundation, can also come in to provide a sustainable structure of support for schools to best implement the Heroes Journey.
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To encourage students to think about how they can volunteer and make a difference in their community
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To provide an opportunity for students to develop their communication and teamwork skills
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To empower students to feel confident mentors and equipped with the skills they will need
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To provide real opportunities for students to be leaders – it is important not just to talk about leadership – they need to experience it for themselves
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To provide each Year 7/Year 8 student with a positive role model they can look up to
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To develop a range of important life-skills which will increase their employability and life chances.
“By setting the scene and introducing the ‘heroes journey’, they look to inspire as many young people as possible to sign up and submit an application to become a hero. Everyone who applies is accepted. In their first year with us, with a little encouragement and targeted conversations, every disadvantaged student in the year group signed up to become a hero. Hero training challenges the young person to get out of their comfort zone, providing opportunities for self-reflection, growth and development. At this point we really started to see a difference in our young people.”
– Stephen Tierney, Former CEO,
Blessed Edward Bamber Catholic Multi Academy Trust
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Our three-part programme will support your pupils from a year group of your choice feel more hopeful for their future, develop confidence, overcome barriers, consider their behaviour and understand themselves and each other better.
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Our first day, Who Am I is a day involving the whole cohort together, or the day split with half a cohort at a time. The day helps students consider their circumstances, past and barriers that have led them to who they are today. We then empower students to work to overcome these barriers, think more positively about their lives and develop more confidence. Students then commit to tangible changes they will need to make going forward.
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We revisit the year group around 6 weeks later to run smaller group extension sessions. These smaller group sessions remind students of the key messages of the first day, prompting them to consider the changes they said they would make and work with them on a more personal and individual level to help them stick to their goals.
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Finally, we return a further 6 weeks later to run Who Am I Now - a day split into two sessions for half a cohort at a time. This day builds on the previous two sessions to again reflect on changes but also to explore who and what they might be taking for granted, their potential, the importance of relationships and motivation for them to take ownership of their life and education.
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This can be supported by follow up activities to be delivered in tutor time, and also we encourage teachers to use the ‘change cards’ to help support pupils moving forward.
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Each student is aware of the barriers that hold them back
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All students are more tolerant of each other and care about other people’s problems more
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Students develop tangible changes they need to make
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All students get a smaller group session to support them in making changes
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Students have higher aspirations for themselves and their future
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Students are more motivated to make the most of their education
HARmony Camp is a three day summer school for primary school pupils transferring to secondary school. The summer school is led by volunteer student heroes based around the three core values of honesty, awareness and responsibility.
The purpose of HARmony Camp is to empower volunteer student heroes to gain leadership skills, facing the authentic challenges of running the event whilst providing a fun, effective and values-based transition programme.
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Year 6 pupils overcome anxieties of starting secondary school and make new friends
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Year 6 pupils have a positive transition experience which leads to a smoother settling in process in Year 7
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Year 6 pupils learn new skills, find their way around school and reflect on themselves and what they want from their time at school
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Year 6 pupils start in Year 7 with effective friendships with peers and heroes
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Heroes volunteer 18+ hours of their own time to support the event
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Heroes develop critical transferable skills that will make them more employable
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Heroes are perfectly placed to support the students when they start secondary school
Over the past 17 years, we have been asked to create all manner of courses & events to suit the needs and outcomes of our diverse client base. Of course the majority of our bespoke programmes have been written for our partners school but we have also successfully created and delivered programmes for youth clubs, corporate organisations, universities and professional football clubs to name but a few.
We have a unique formula with which we create our events that begins with us closely listening to the ideas, needs and agendas of our clients. We ask them to identify their three most desired outcomes for the event and use these as the foundation blocks for creating a first class experience for their colleagues or students.
Once we have these details we use our 8 course components to build an engaging, fun, relevant and useful programme that is guaranteed to stimulate and motivate even the hardest to reach students and staff. Using this tried & tested formula we can deal with almost any topic that is relevant & specific to your needs. Topics can be designed for adults or students and include but are not limited to:
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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
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Homophobia and other forms of discrimination
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Bulllying
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Team morale & team building
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Developing leadership skills, values & ethics
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Kindness, optimism & gratitude
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Social action & volunteering
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Managing your own behaviour
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Growth mindset & goal setting
Bespoke Courses
Their enthusiasm, positivity and ability to develop such positive relationships with students is something to behold. Teaching staff who were present during some of the sessions were ‘blown away’ by the transformation they saw in some students and this is testament to the skill of your team."
Julie Cadman
Deputy Headteacher
Cardinal Newman Catholic High School
Let's Discuss Your School
Connect with our team:
Typically we start of with a day for a whole year group. The day is an engaging, high-energy, emotive and interactive day - not just an all day assembly! The year group will be together in a hall space for the day. Following the initial input, we then run mentoring and extended programmes.
The heroes journey is a volunteering programme and as such is open to all - not just the self starters, but also those who are lacking in confidence and self esteem or for those who are more challenging. This provides authentic mentoring by young people, for young people around the challenges they face
We have an online survey the students can complete. Additionally, many schools have looked and reported positive trends in terms of attainment, behaviour points and attendance.
We have a comprehensive package to keep the momentum going - from assembly slides, to form time acitivites, to cards that the students can refer back to for positive changes. We would also encourage as many staff to see our work and use the key messages day-to-day. Young people really get them!