What they do:

Aspire NI exists to work with children in Northern Ireland in poverty to help close the educational attainment gap experienced by the most disadvantaged. It has three main programmes that are run in partnerships with schools. After school homework clubs are offered for young people in a supervised and supportive environment. Facilitators are present to encourage young people and provide tuition and support. A skills academy is also delivered and taught over an academic year by professionals in fields such as barista training, business, youth work, art and music production. Each year Aspire runs a cross-community camp programme where the history of The Troubles is included, which also covers how this may have affected low-income families growing in post-conflict Northern Ireland.

Impact:

• 93% of GCSE pupils on the Aspire Programme achieved 5 or more GCSEs in 2019/20.
• In the youth work group, eight of the young people completed an OCN (Open College Network) Youth Work qualification and have the skills to explore a career in youth work.
• Of the eight young people who gained the qualification, three now volunteer in Aspire supporting other children achieve a better education.

Why they won a CSJ Award:

The CSJ Award will enable Aspire NI to achieve their goal to cover 44 schools up from 18. They want agencies to know that there is a support network to provide children in low-income families with the opportunities that they would not otherwise receive. Especially after lockdown, children that have been neglected or lacked guidance need the support of organisations such as Aspire NI more than ever. Aspire NI aims to eradicate poverty in Northern Ireland and give every young person a quality education.

Watch the Trailer: Aspire NI.

What they do:

St Edmund’s provides vocational trade-related qualifications to marginalised, socially excluded young people mainly between the ages of 11-18 who are struggling or have struggled within mainstream education and failed to achieve. These young people tend to be largely written off or ignored and find themselves adding to the ranks of those considered NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). Opportunity is provided for them to learn and excel in a range of disciplines from construction trades, and mechanics to hair and beauty alongside assistance with English and maths where they have had problems at school. They are given access to meaningful work-related experience to boost their chances of employment. Additionally, they are given welfare and pastoral support to help overcome the individual barriers to learning and progression that they have previously encountered.

Impact:

• 128 students supported through outreach in 2021/2022.
• 78% achieved a qualification.
• 86% retention rate on courses.

Why they won a CSJ Award:

St Edmund’s addresses the needs of “The Forgotten and Ghost Children”, many of whom come from disconnected and marginalised families, are vulnerable and at risk of CCE (Child Criminal Exploitation). The charity has a full cohort of 126 post-16 and 100 school students for the academic year 2022/23. It is hoped St Edmund’s can continue to achieve their short-term aspirations to reach even more young people and families while raising awareness of a neglected but growing problem for society as a whole.

Find out more:

Lorraine Bliss MBE
lorraine.bliss@st-eds.org.uk

Website: www.st-eds.org

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdmundsSociety

Instagram: https://instagram.com/stedmundssociety

Watch the Trailer: St Edmund’s Society.

What they do:

Khulisa exists to support excluded or marginalised young people whose behaviour is deemed challenging or antisocial, and the professionals, peers and carers who support them. It ensures young people affected by trauma or adversity have the social skills and emotional support they need to thrive. The charity delivers intensive therapeutic programmes in the education sector, designed for young people from disadvantaged communities at risk of offending, exploitation, and exclusion. The programmes build social and emotional skills and improve wellbeing, providing an early intervention to break the school to prison pipeline. By using a combination of art, storytelling, and 1:1 / group experiential techniques, delivered by our trained drama therapists, Khulisa builds self-awareness and encourages pupils to reflect on the root causes and triggers of their disruptive or challenging behaviour.

Impact:

• Khulisa’s programmes improve educational and longer-term life outcomes for young people.
• Its programmes deliver statistically significant improvement in wellbeing, self-regulation and social skills. A further 71% show improved resilience.
• 98% of the children who complete the ‘Face It’ programme demonstrate improved behaviour at school. They are half as likely to be re-excluded from school and 10 times less likely to reoffend if they already have a criminal record.

Why they won a CSJ Award:

Khulisa’s flagship programme “Face It”, targets young people experiencing disadvantage such as being on free school meals, speaking English as a second language, and having special educational needs. Their approach is unique, effective, and evidence-based. Supported by the latest developments in neuroscience, their programmes have enabled young people to better understand their responses to stress and conflict, and build social and emotional skills.

Find out more:

Cara Cinnamon
info@khulisa.co.uk

Website: www.khulisa.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KhulisaUK

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KhulisaUK

Instagram: https://instagram.com/KhulisaUK

Watch the Trailer: Khulisa.

What they do:

The Moses Project provides daily support, mentoring, and activities for men aged 25 and over who have become isolated from society, due to addiction or unforeseen circumstances. The focus is on ‘changing lives’ and living free from addiction. They often deal with addicts who are the second and third generation, breaking the cycle of generational poverty that may lead to further substance abuse. The project accompanies clients to medical appointments including hospitals to ensure punctual attendance; arranges counselling if necessary; arranges housing and benefits; offers recreational activities that help reintroduce them into the community; as well as supporting recovering addicts with budgeting, nutrition and managing a home.

Impact:

• Approximately 1,000 men have benefitted from their services in the past decade.
• The project has helped 172 men get clean, get a job and escape the cycle of poverty.
• More than 500 men have been helped off the streets of Stockton and into safe housing.
• The charity has provided maths and English skills for more than 200 men to help them to become financially dependent and able to return to society.

Why they won a CSJ Award:

The Moses Project service is highly personable, with staff members and volunteers having lived experience of addiction or homelessness at some point in their lives. Men who are in difficult situations feel they are part of something and can depend on a Moses Project volunteer and staff member to be a trusted support through their difficult process of recovery. The CSJ award will help the Moses Project to provide housing for their clients during the rehabilitation process.

Find out more:

Brian Jones BEM
brian@themosesproject.co.uk

Website: www.themosesproject.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themosesprojectstockton

Twitter: https://twitter.com/themosesprojec1

Instagram: https://instagram.com/moses_project1

Watch the Trailer: The Moses Project.

What they do:

Storybook Dads provides families with the opportunity to reconnect through the power of storytelling. Each year over 312,000 children experience the imprisonment of a parent that often affects their self-esteem and general wellbeing. Many imprisoned parents are moved to prisons far away from their families, meaning communication can be limited. Storybook Dads enables imprisoned parents from 100 different prisons nationwide to record bedtime stories and messages for their children (including women’s prisons where the project is known as Storybook Mums). Personalised stories and gifts show the children they are loved and helps the parent maintain a positive impact on their children’s lives from behind bars.

Impact:

• Every year Storybook Dads helps over 5,000 prisoners record bedtime stories for their children.
• 97% of families said that the DVD, CD or gift made the child feel closer to the absent parent or relative.
• 98% of prisoners said participating in the project has encouraged them to read with their child in the future.

Why they won a CSJ Award:

Storybook Dads has a unique family-centred approach that responds to nurturing both parent and child at a vulnerable stage. Winning a CSJ Award will raise their profile and help them to fund their projects which have made an exceptional difference to the lives of children struggling while a parent is in prison. The chances of a prisoner reoffending are up to six times less likely when family ties are maintained. Storybook Dads helps to give back a little of what prison takes away.

Find out more:

Sharon Berry OBE
sharon@storybookdads.org.uk

Website: www.storybookdads.org.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StorybookDads

Twitter: https://twitter.com/StorybookDads

Instagram: https://instagram.com/StorybookDads

Watch the Trailer: Storybook Dads.

What they do:

Oasis Project, founded in 1997 by a group of women with lived experience of drug use, helps women, children and families who have been affected by drug and alcohol addiction to find the strength and opportunities needed to help lead to change. Oasis Project provides a broad portfolio of services including structured, gender-specific drug and alcohol treatment for women, a Sex Workers’ Outreach Project, a dedicated service for women who have had children removed from their care, therapy for children affected by parental substance misuse and a free creche for babies and toddlers.

Impact:

• Oasis Project works with 890 people each year across Brighton & Hove and East Sussex including adult women, children, young people, and parents.
• In the last year, 98% of women remained in treatment for over 12 weeks
• 84% of Oasis’ clients reported a reduction in drug/alcohol use or maintained abstinence over the past year.
• 100% of children 5-10 years and 71% of children 11-17 years affected by parental substance misuse scored themselves as less distressed at the end of therapy than the start.

Why they won a CSJ Award:

Oasis Project remains the only provider of female only drug and alcohol services in the UK. It runs a range of programmes that successfully meets the charity’s aims tackling addiction in women alongside providing support for children and the wider family. This award will allow the project to expand and provide further funding opportunities for the benefit of our people.

Find out more:

Laura Ward
laura.ward@oasisproject.org.uk

Website: www.oasisproject.org.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OasisPrjct/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/oasis_project_

Instagram: https://instagram.com/oasis_project_

Watch the Trailer: Oasis Project.