For Trent Bridge Community Trust’s Positive Futures project, half term represents an opportunity to engage young people outside of the school setting, and February was no different, with a trip to adventure park Ninja Warrior UK marking the end of a week of workshops.

2022’s holiday initiatives began on 15 February, with sport sessions in the Cotgrave community. The aim was to engage young people in physical activity, reduce antisocial behavior in the area, and support individuals in building positive relationships. 

Meanwhile, a self-esteem workshop took place in the Cotgrave Youth Club to help young girls understand confidence and body image, and how this may impact them. 

On 16 February, the multi-sport session moved to Keyworth Leisure Centre, while a ‘Bake and Box’ workshop at Trent Bridge supported Positive Futures cohorts in understanding food hygiene, while a boxing class educated on how physical activity can help with confidence, self-esteem and mental health. 

"These sessions are so valuable," said Aaliyah Clifford, Positive Futures Project Officer

"One major thing at the moment is confidence for young people. There are a lot of influences on social media and online, which create a lot of issues on self-esteem.

We are working towards facing those barriers, and it is so valuable for them to analyse themselves and think 'I may be struggling, but I can come here, make new friends and push myself out of my comfort zone."

Friday's visit to Ninja Warrior - an adventure park inspired by ITV’s hit programme Ninja Warrior UK, where obstacles are climbed up, balanced upon and leaped over -  was an incentive for the young people who displayed exceptional effort throughout the previous half term and engaged in various workshops. Whilst representing a reward, the trip also helped to encourage individuals out of their comfort zone.  

Established in 2009, Positive Futures seeks to help young people between 11 and 19 who are at risk of social exclusion. It does this by delivering one-to-one mentoring and workshops, tailored to the needs of the individual, with mentees based at Rushcliffe Borough Council’s seven secondary schools and its surrounding areas. 

Overall, the behaviour support plan devised by Positive Futures aims to build resilience and academic confidence, address potential barriers to learning, and encourage young people to raise their aspirations.

The programme has allowed 1213 young people to receive mentoring and has trained 40 peer mentors over the past 13 years.

The proof is in the pudding of the project. In the final year of a three-year project in Newark, there was a 33% reduction in youth crime.