Stepping Up builds confidence, motivation and interpersonal skills
Collaborating with North Yorkshire police and a range of partner referral agencies, we work with young people to build their confidence, motivation, and interpersonal skills. This support can take the form of Stepping Up Mentoring or Achieve Group Interventions. Both interventions are available to young people from York and North Yorkshire, and we can work with ages 8-16.
Stepping Up uses elements of physical activity and sport throughout the different interventions but it is important to recognise that this is not a sports club or sports coaching programme. Instead, we use physical activity as a vehicle for positive change.
Stepping Up Mentoring
Stepping Up Mentoring is a person-centred, young person led approach to reaching your potential. Young people can be referred for a variety of reasons including but not limited to:
- Those who are beginning to show signs of risky or challenging behaviour at school, at home or within the community,
- Exposure to adverse experiences or trauma,
- Siblings within the system,
- Those coming to the attention of local police
They will work with one of our NYS Athlete Mentors [link to meet the mentors, lower down on the page] to explore different things such as how they approach day to day challenges, behaviour in school and at home, and positive activities they might like to try in their community. This might include local sports teams, clubs or activities. Each intervention begins with a half term’s worth of sessions (5-6 weeks), and mentors will visit the young person at school or a pre-determined location if that young person is not attending school.
How it works
Step 1: Making a referral
Referrals for Stepping Up can be made by school staff, police, community liaison officers, social workers and a variety of other organisations. Eligibility criteria can be found on our web page and we are always open to a discussion around specific circumstances or if you aren’t sure. Where possible, referrals should be made in collaboration with the young person’s school and a suitable location should be available on site for sessions
Step 2: Referral is triaged
NYS staff check the referral is suitable, request additional information if required or signpost on to a more appropriate service for that young person
Step 3: Mentor is assigned
Depending on young person preferences and availability, a mentor is assigned and dates/times are emailed to the referrer as well as a link to a ‘Baseline Assessment’ survey. Completion of this survey is a condition of taking part in Stepping Up and sessions cannot begin until it is complete. Where possible sessions will take place in a school. Other arrangements are at the discretion of NYS and must be agreed beforehand
Step 4: Mentoring begins
Mentoring begins at the earliest possible date and usually take place over half termly rotations (average 6 sessions). Mentors visit young person once a week and content of sessions is young person led. Emphasis is on building confidence, positive approaches to problem solving and resolving conflict, and developing communication skills. Exit routes to community clubs and activities should also be explored
Step 5: Next steps
During their final session, mentors will work with the young person and referrers to decide whether to continue support or hand over to another service or club*
*Note: The average intervention requires six weeks of support and we cannot guarantee any extensions beyond this due to funding restrictions and high demand
What Stepping Up means to those involved
“If I need someone to talk to I’ll talk to James because he listens… and I feel like he doesn’t judge me when I’m talking to him. We’ve done kayaking and surfing, which took me out of my comfort zone, but I really enjoyed that”, – Jack, talking about their time on the Stepping Up Mentoring programme.
“Some young people were making some really poor choices out in the community and by us challenging them and giving them a positive role model they start questioning their behaviour and they make those little changes”, – James Kirton, Athlete Mentor
Make a referral
You can make a referral to our Stepping Up Mentoring programme here.