SEMH Support
Through my training and personal experiences as a child, which involved trauma and extreme behavioural issues, as well as my own journey of transformation, I incorporate all my teachings into supporting young people in becoming who they are. I was diagnosed with ADHD from a young age, and this has followed me into Adulthood. This gives me a unique insight into some of the difficulties / barriers that some young people face. I have worked with disengaged and vulnerable young people for over 15 years. I started my career working for the Youth offending service, then moved on to work in numerous specialist schools, supporting students with SEMH needs and then more recently founding Generation Youth I am a mental health champion, and my motivation was and still is, to play a part in attempting to steer young people away from a life of crime and potentially a custodial sentence, and to fulfil their true potential. When young people feel their emotional well-being is being prioritised, they are far more likely to feel better about themselves, engage positively in their learning and reach their full protentional. Generation Youth offers a therapeutic teaching response. We see beyond the behaviour and identify the feelings the young person is having. It’s about acknowledging that every difficult behaviour begins with a feeling that is usually overwhelming or intense enough to trigger an emotional response. – Managing Director Spencer Atkin
Independent Living
At generation youth we seek to look beyond the classroom, and take a retrospective look on a young person’s life. Therefore, we offer our independent living programme to all students, both in depth for our post-16 students and incorporated into PSHE lessons for secondary school age students. In this programme we look at how to manage finances, how to look after a house, good hygiene, booking appointments, cooking and nutrition, independently reaching out for support and how to maintain good social emotional physical and mental health.
Travel Training
upon request and for all post-16 students, we offer our travel training services. As students approach post-16, we want them to have the confidence and abilities to travel to and from their home address to their post-16 provider independently. Each student will learn the skills required to be able to catch a bus, train or taxi with confidence by the end of this programme. If needed, we also can offer students help for their theory test, if they are intending to drive to the base. Included in this programme and to all students In PSHE is the vital ‘road safety’ our learners uncover the dos and donts of the road, as well as understanding the rights as a pedestrian and the applicable laws/highway code.
Our Partners
With our extensive links, students are never short of trying new activities. We believe an essential part of growth for a young person stems from the opportunities granted to them. Whether this be volunteering at a shop or for charities, taking on enterprise projects in the local community, becoming a radio host at Takeover Radio, trying new water sports at the Outdoor Pursuits centre, reforesting with the Wildlife trust, blasting into space with the Space Centre or restoring the canals with the ‘Canal Trust’.