MIDDLESBROUGH Football Club Foundation (MFCF) are proud to be working in partnership with Middlesbrough Borough Council to deliver a new targeted transition youth offer.
The Foundation have a wealth of experience and expertise in this area, having successfully implemented and delivered the Stepping Up transition programme aimed at supporting young people transitioning from primary to secondary school for the past five years.
Middlesbrough Youth Service supports Middlesbrough Children’s Service’s vision of ‘Middlesbrough Children Matter’, through delivering an inclusive youth service that is accessible to all young people residing in Middlesbrough aged 11-18-years-old (up to 25 years old for those with additional needs).
Bringing established practice and combined knowledge together, this new programme will provide support for children and young people at key transition points where there is a significant change in their lives. This could be the transition from moving schools, as well as the transition from school to next steps in education, training or employment.
The service aims to deliver early help and prevention work for children, young people and their families to reduce the impact of adverse childhood experiences. The Youth Service will also offer targeted support for those young people who require additional provision, including supporting young people at key transitional stages of their childhood.
MFCF Transition Coordinator, Steven Bell, said: “We are delighted to have received this funding from Middlesbrough Borough Council and we can’t wait to get started. This is a subject that we are extremely passionate about after working in the field of transition for five years. We understand the complexities of transitional milestones and the impact this has on young people’s social, emotional and academic development.”
All eight secondary schools in Middlesbrough are eligible to take part in this and will be responsible for referring their young people directly to MFCF using a transitional referral form. The Foundation will also be working closely with primary schools to identify Year 6 students who require additional support, as well as working with the FE and HE sector to prepare school leavers as they enter employment, training and general adulthood. One coordinator and three full-time Transitional Youth Workers will spearhead this programme.
Working collaboratively with fellow providers The Linx Youth Project and The Junction Foundation, this multi-agency approach will ensure that every child and young person in the Middlesbrough Local Authority area has equal access to high quality services, aiding their transition through important milestones, and enabling them to fulfil their potential and promote general quality of life.
For more information, contact Steven at steven.bell@mfcfoundation.co.uk
