WASP worked with the Blagrave Trust, Swindon Academy, and the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust (DKHT) to deliver two separate 'Get on Track' programmes to groups of young people in Swindon this year. These programmes are led by world class athletes and are aimed at young people aged 16-25 who are facing disadvantage. The programme helps them to realise the attitudes and behaviours they need to make long term positive life choices.
Get on Track for Wellbeing
The first programme, Get on Track for Wellbeing, is a personal, social and emotional development programme designed to help young people become more physically active and to improve their mental wellbeing. This 18-week programme targeted students aged 16-18 at risk of low attendance, low self-esteem or have known mental health issues and is led by world class Athlete Mentors from DKHT. The programme uses personal, social and emotional development practices to increase the participants' confidence, self-esteem and resilience. Through activities and mentoring, young people increase their physical activity levels and improve self-belief, motivation and self-esteem, leading to more positive attitudes and behaviours. Additionally the programme helped participants to:
- improve their positive social networks leading to increased integration into the community
- improve their relevant skills, experience and focus, leading to increased long-term employment prospects
On Track to Achieve for Education
The second programme, On Track to Achieve for Education, is an innovative school based mentoring programme in which Athlete Mentors work with groups of young people aged 14-16. The programme was aimed towards female students at risk of low attendance, low self-esteem and with known mental health issues.
The programme helps develop the confidence, emotional resilience and teamwork of the young people, and enables them to reflect on their own aspirations for the future.
Over the course of the programme, young people had the opportunity to:
- Work with an Athlete Mentor to achieve their personal goals and targets set for the programme.
- Keep an up to date account that reflects their development and activities undertaken.
- Work as a team with other young people from within the school and/or in the local community.
- Be part of a social action project that will make a positive impact locally.
To find out more about the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, click the button below.
