The Support and Prevention Team at Leeds City Council delivers a targeted resilience programme to support young people in secondary schools and colleges across Leeds.
The fully funded, eight-week programme helps young people build resilience, strengthen emotional wellbeing, develop healthy relationships and feel more confident managing challenges and making positive decisions about their future.
What does the programme involve?
The programme consists of eight weekly group sessions, each lasting approximately one hour. It is based on the YoungMinds Academic Resilience model, focusing on five key areas: Belonging, Core, Coping, Learning and Basic.
Sessions explore a range of topics relevant to young people’s lives, including managing emotions, stress and anxiety, peer pressure, social media, body image and healthy relationships.
Example session topics
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Being me and knowing myself
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Understanding boundaries
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Exploring emotions and solving problems
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Stress and anxiety
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Sleep
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Peer pressure, risk and the teenage brain
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Healthy relationships
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Body image and celebrating achievements
Who is the programme for?
The programme is available to Year 10 and Year 11 pupils who would benefit from additional support to develop resilience, social skills and emotional wellbeing.
Priority will be given to Year 11 pupils identified as being at risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training). Once these pupils have been prioritised, places will be offered to eligible Year 10 pupils at risk of becoming NEET, subject to availability.
The programme may also support young people who:
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Experience anxiety, low mood or difficulties with emotional wellbeing.
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Engage in, or are at risk of, harmful or risky behaviours.
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Need support to develop social skills and build healthy relationships.
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Experience difficulties with attendance or attainment.
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Need help managing peer pressure and other challenges.
The programme is not exclusively for young people who display challenging behaviour. It aims to provide a supportive environment where pupils can develop the skills and confidence to navigate challenges and build positive futures.
Programme evaluation
The programme will be evaluated weekly and at the end of the eight-week programme to help assess its impact.
Parent/carer consent
Schools and colleges will receive a template letter outlining the purpose of the programme and requesting parent/carer consent for their child to participate.
Eligibility and enquiries
This is a targeted, commissioned offer, and eligibility must be confirmed before requesting a place.
To find out whether your school or college is eligible, please request it here: https://www.leedsforlearning.co.uk/Store/Service/64831
Feedback from pupils and schools
'Fantastic programme, covering a range of topics with the pupils which cover the PSHE curriculum. The facilitator has built trusting relationships with the pupils and they demonstrate a great deal of respect towards him and this enables him to have healthy discussions with our learners about sensitive issues. '
Teacher (SEMH provision)
'I have gained confidence- I know I can speak to people now’.
Secondary pupil