鈥�Since joining 海角社区 I feel like the future is getting a lot better for me鈥�听听
The transition听from school to college, training,听or work is a significant moment in any young person’s life.听听New environments,听people and听challenges听can be daunting and often听call for听the development of new skills听to ease this听transition.听海角社区 works听with young people so they can build the skills they need to embrace these transitions and tackle any challenges they may face听during this time.听听
Lauren joined 海角社区 during her transition from school to college.听A passionate reader and aspiring librarian, Lauren was looking to build her employability skills and work towards her goal听of working in a library or book shop.听She felt she could benefit from increasing her independence and gaining social skills.听Following a meeting with her local job centre,听Lauren听was referred to the Inspiring Young Futures programme.听
The programme offers regular community-based outreach support wrapped around a Wilderness Journey usually in the highlands of Scotland. Through intensive learning and personal development individuals will consolidate their new skills, boost confidence, motivation, and aspirations.听听
Lauren met听regularly听with her听community-based听海角社区听Outreach Worker to identify goals and ways to work towards them.听听
鈥淢y听outreach听worker really helped me with setting goals. We met up a lot where we would just walk around and talk which was nice. I find it easier to talk and be open when we鈥檙e outside, it鈥檚 more comfortable.听The talks helped me find out what I鈥檓 passionate about.鈥�听
As part of our Inspiring Young Futures programme, participants听also听take part听in听a wilderness journey, usually in the Highlands听of Scotland.听This involves听groupwork and outdoor activities such as canoeing and abseiling, to support听young people to听develop听confidence,听a听sense of achievement and key relationship building skills.听听
鈥淭here were a few aspects of the wilderness journey that made me nervous.听I felt nervous for socialising on the听trip听and all the logistics around the travel.听I don鈥檛 often go away by听myself,听so I wanted to make sure I was听prepared,听and the workers听helped me understand all this before I left.鈥�
鈥淥n the Wilderness Journey we learnt how to build听tents, went听canoeing听(which was a听nerve-wracking听challenge),听and cooked our food on stoves. This helped听me feel like I achieved my goal of gaining听independence as I feel I could go camping by myself听now听if I have all the right kit.听
I could听definitely see听myself听going听camping again somewhere and spending听more time outdoors. At first听it听was听really out听my comfort zone but now I鈥檓 fine. The trip definitely听helped听increase my confidence听in that way.鈥�
Through regular听contact with their听community outreach听worker,听each young person is听encouraged to听reflect听on their beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours and focus on听the听areas they听want听to improve in their life. Their worker听supports听them to create goals which they can work towards in the months leading up to their Wilderness Journey.听Whilst on the Wilderness Journey, young people听experience the inherent challenges of the outdoors which听encourages them to stretch their comfort zones and test what they are capable of. Experiencing these challenges in a natural environment with the support of experienced workers听helps听young people to build听psychological resilience and create positive mental health.听听
鈥淭he main growth of my independence is learning to trust my own thoughts and opinions. Before there were听times听I would be听unsure of things and get really confused, but now I know to trust my gut.听My family noticed that I鈥檝e gotten a bit more assertive and more confident with myself which is something I wanted to work on.鈥�听
Since joining 海角社区, Lauren听started a course at听Forth听Valley听College which offers placements to students looking to gain employability skills.听
听鈥淚鈥檇 describe 海角社区 as an enjoyable adventure.听This was a great course for me to be on before starting college since I鈥檝e built my confidence up to socialising with others.鈥�听
More information about Inspiring Young Futures can be found on our programmes page:听
