Innovative service helps young people find alternative educational pathways

Bridges Project’s Support2Thrive service has found a new way of helping young people with complex barriers move on to further education, employment or volunteering.

Funded by the Robertson Trust, Support2Thrive was launched in 2022 as an alternative way of providing employment focused educational support to marginialised young people in East Lothian and Midlothian.

It provides support to young people aged 13-18 through three main focus areas. Firstly, the service offers on one-to-one mentoring and coaching sessions, through which young people reduce their social isolation and build up their confidence and resilience. They can also participate in practical, sector-specific courses that give them the opportunity to gain accredited qualifications. Finally, young people are able to undertake work experience with local employers.

The service has been a massive success so far, with 88 young people facing complex barriers such as trauma, addiction and neurodiversity supported in its first year. 19 of these have moved on to education, employment or volunteering.

Educational Support Worker Sam Lamond delivers Support2Thrive. She believes the success of the service is based on its flexible approach of looking at education from a different viewpoint:

“For some young people, the formal route of education is not an option. Through Support2Thrive, we are encouraging young people to realise that it is not the only option and that you can also look at industry based education,” said Sam.

Her focus is on changing the mindset of young people who are disengaged from mainstream education.

“It is about getting them to realise that the door is not closed to them. We focus on subjects that are relevant to them and have discussions about why they are relevant to the industry they are interested in. This helps them to start thinking about careers and how to get there,” she added.

Among the courses Support2Thrive’s offers are employability courses run in local schools. Pamela McIntosh, Principal Teacher Pupil Support at Dunbar Grammar School, said these courses have helped her students secure positive destinations.  

“The course has something for everyone, regardless of ability or chosen destination. In today’s current climate, being prepared for leaving school is imperative and the course gives students a real life look at what to do and how to do it,” she said.

Ms McIntosh added:

“In the delivery, Sam is realistic and up to date. She is aware of what is required by so many employers and further education institutes and is able to give an experienced and detailed account of what is needed.”

Shea Robertson, 18, from Tranent was unemployed and struggling with low confidence and self-esteem when he started Support2Thrive’s Build You Up construction industry employability course. He says the course made him feel better about both himself and the future.

“It helped me meet new people, improved my confidence and helped me develop skills that will make me more independent in the future. I have gained certificates that will help me get a job and have more of an idea of what work I can do. I feel I have been supported really well,” said Shea.    

Gillian Morton, Funding Officer at The Robertson Trust, said:

“We are delighted to hear of the progress of the Support2Thrive project and the positive impact it’s having on students and staff across East Lothian and Midlothian. Shea's experience highlights how life-enhancing dedicated mentoring and coaching support can be, and in particular the positive effects this can have on not only educational outcomes but personal outcomes too. We are pleased to be supporting their work and look forward to learning from them as they progress.”