600,000 pupils are due to leave school this year at a time when exams have been cancelled and job vacancies are at the lowest level in 10 years. The Covid-19 crisis has had a disproportionate effect on young people with one in three at risk of losing their jobs. The Sutton Trust have shown that 2/3 of young people are not engaging with online learning and 45% have had no contact with teachers. At Homes2Inspire we are refusing to accept this as an inevitability. Our homes are working hard to ensure our young people do not fall behind with their education or miss out on future employment opportunities.

Throughout our homes we have individual timetables for each young person during this period. Some are still attending school, some have online virtual tuition and some have work sent to them directly from school. Alongside work on core subjects, we have been delivering accredited qualifications across our homes. As a registered Youth Awards Provider, we encourage all of our young people to complete the Asdan Accredited Youth Achievement Awards. Ranging from Bronze to Platinum, young people pick their own challenges and targets with the support of our home staff.

Every year thousands of young people across the country take part in the UK Youth Achievement Awards, with those who complete the Platinum Award achieving 16 UCAS points.  Unlike most other awards, they champion a variety of learning methods, providing a unique framework that can be tailored to almost any activity. The Awards are graded from Bronze to Platinum:

Bronze – Taking part and getting involved

Silver – Helping to organise

Gold – Planning and leading

Platinum – Taking a full leadership role, with an element of training

During the lockdown period, our young people have achieved over a dozen Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. Three have achieved the Platinum Reward, two of which have Education Health and Care Plans - demonstrating our commitment to equality of opportunity. Our young people have planned and carried out projects from fitness activities to fundraising for Covid-19 charities. From drama competitions to creative writing - with many more in-between. We have received great feedback from those who have completed the awards, mainly around making them feel more confident in themselves.

With the uncertain outlook due to be with us for the foreseeable future, at Homes2Inspire we are working hard to ensure our young people have the soft skills needed to enter the workforce. The Youth Achievement Awards provide a great framework to promote practical learning, teamwork and life skills – whilst gaining an accredited qualification in the process.