Moving On: Supporting Young People to Take Their Next Steps

Moving On is one of the core strands of our Adswood Youth Connection project, funded through the VRU. After a successful trial last summer, we made the decision—alongside our Step Up transition programme—to embed Moving On as a permanent, year-round offer for young people who need additional support outside of mainstream education.

The programme is designed for young people who, for a wide range of reasons, are currently not in school or formal learning. Our aim is to give them a safe, supportive and engaging space to reconnect, rebuild confidence and explore what their future could look like. We currently have four regular attendees, and with new referral pathways being built through local schools and community groups, we’re excited to welcome even more young people from January onwards.

At its heart, Moving On is about confidence, connection and discovery. Each session is centred around helping young people develop social skills, find their spark, and explore new interests or passions. Ultimately, we want every participant to feel ready and confident to take their next steps—whether that’s returning to education, starting a training pathway, or pursuing something that feels right for them.

What We’ve Been Up To So Far

Young people taking part in Moving On have already embraced a wide range of activities, including:

• Designing reflective journals to track their personal journey, highlight achievements and help staff understand their goals and aspirations.

• Seasonal and creative projects, including Halloween crafts that encouraged imagination and hands-on learning.

• Creating care packages and hampers for a local care leavers’ event—building empathy, teamwork and community awareness.

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  Producing handmade items to sell at the local Teen Market, followed by attending the market themselves—offering real-world work experience and a huge boost in confidence.

• Cooking and baking sessions, supporting independence and practical life skills.

• Building friendships and social connections, providing gentle opportunities for teamwork, communication and fun.

• Connecting with other Make Good and PIE programmes, helping young people feel part of a wider, supportive community.

  
  

Ciara from PIE sums it up perfectly: “It’s a great atmosphere for the young people to work on their next steps, develop insights, and gain a sense of who they are and who they want to be.”

Join Us After Christmas

We have spaces available for new participants to join the programme in January. If you work with, support, or are a young person who would benefit from Moving On, we’d love to hear from you.

For more information or to make a referral, please contact Jen at Make Good or complete the sign-up form below:

jen.makebuildgrow@gmail.com https://forms.gle/HyUQFsxrTEUG4gmB9