Celebrating Our Step Up Peer Mentors

During the May half-term break, we took our fantastic Step Up Peer Mentors to Parrs Wood for a well-deserved celebration of everything they have achieved this year. This group of young people previously took part in our Step Up programme and have now completed their Peer Mentor training, preparing them to take on leadership roles with our new 2026 Step Up cohort.

Step Up is our transition programme designed to support young people as they move from Year 6 into Year 7. Starting secondary school can be both exciting and daunting, so the programme helps young people build confidence, make new friends and develop the skills needed to navigate this important change successfully.

Throughout the programme, participants have opportunities to meet other young people who may be attending the same secondary schools, helping them establish connections before September. They also take part in a range of activities that encourage them to step outside their comfort zones, communicate with new people and build their confidence.

One of our favourite aspects of the programme is the Peer Mentor model. It provides young people with the opportunity to showcase the skills they developed during their own Step Up journey while continuing to grow those skills further. By sharing their experiences, offering advice and supporting the new cohort, our Peer Mentors become positive role models for younger participants.

To celebrate everything they have achieved, the group voted on how they wanted to spend their celebration day and chose a trip to Laser Quest at Parrs Wood. The young people enjoyed the air conditioning for about two minutes before becoming a sweaty mess from all the running around and friendly competition! There was plenty of laughter, teamwork and determination on display as the group battled it out in the arena.

After Laser Quest, we caught the bus back to Stockport for lunch together before sending everyone on their way to enjoy the rest of the sunshine. It was a brilliant way to celebrate the group's achievements and reflect on how far they have come since first joining the Step Up programme.

We are incredibly proud of this group and the leadership they have shown. Their willingness to share their experiences, support younger participants and give back to the programme demonstrates just how much they have grown in confidence, resilience and communication skills.

We can't wait to see the positive impact they have on our 2026 Step Up cohort and look forward to another fantastic year of supporting young people through this important stage of their lives.