Seventeen vulnerable young people have been given vital support and training as part of a six-month charity pilot project supported by a £2,000 grant from the Wesleyan Foundation.
Dreamscheme used the grant to provide pastoral services to at-risk young people in Belfast giving support and intervention to those who have faced severe challenges in their lives.
David Nicholl, Chairman at Dreamscheme, said:
“Our support project in schools in Belfast has been a great success. During the period, we’ve been able to achieve more than we’d originally hoped, providing 12 weeks of one-to-one mentoring to 17 pupils with severe personal, social and emotional challenges.
“We’ve also delivered two series of life skills workshops, covering subjects such as ‘dealing with peer pressure’ and ‘looking after your mental health.”
Mrs Gordon, Vice Principle of Breda Academy in Belfast, said:
“Dreamscheme has been a lifeline for our school – they offer a particular skill set that schools usually have no access to.
“Their capacity to engage with disaffected pupils has been amazing. They’re so flexible in their methods, and can deliver such high quality and innovative approaches to engage positively with young people. We would be lost without them.”
Caroline Hill, Chief People & Strategy Officer at Wesleyan, said:
“Helping organisations that are delivering lasting and positive change to communities is hugely important to us, so we were really happy to support Dreamscheme with this grant. Dreamscheme is making a real impact in Northern Ireland and it is great to see the pilot has been able to help so many young people.”
Tina Costello, Chief Executive at the Heart of England Community Foundation, said:
“This grant has done a great amount in supporting these young people. We’re thankful for our relationship with Wesleyan and other Community Foundations Across the UK that enables us to provide vital funds for grassroots organisations.”
Dreamscheme Northern Ireland provides long term, weekly support to at-risk young people, through local youth groups, residential trips, discussion sessions, wellbeing activities, learning workshops and individual mentoring, with the aim of encouraging ambition, building potential and promoting self-worth.
The Wesleyan Foundation was launched in June 2017 by specialist financial services mutual Wesleyan and has already provided more than £1 million in funding to more than 300 charities, community groups and social enterprises around the country.
For more information about the Wesleyan Foundation and to apply for funding click here.