COVID19 - Preventing exclusions (360G-Walcot-0061E00001IedBeQAJ)

Alford House wish to deliver a programme of support that combines school-based and youth club based intervention to improve the mental health and resilience of young people as a way to reduce the numbers suffering fixed and permanent exclusions. The programme will work in 3 local schools (Lilian Baylis, Arch Bishop Tennison and Elm Green) and with approximately 90% Lambeth low-income families. 2 of the 3 schools are a very short walk from Alford House and thus attract many children from the community that Alford House staff know so well. The project will then provide small-group sessions, 1:1 work, motivational speakers and access to youth services at Alford House (such as music production and a gym) providing 'wrap-around' support that recognises and embraces how community and home life impact school behaviour and commitment. The curriculum has been developed over several years by Alford House but will now be updated to draw more heavily on young people's experiences of the pandemic and the Black Lives Matters movement. The programme will also use a group of highly successful professional mentors/speakers (all of whom have the lived experience and grown up in similar circumstances to the young people they are targetted) to act as inspirational role models.