AA EDUCATES
What We Do
OUR PURPOSE
Our purpose is to empower young individuals from underserved communities, equipping them with the skills they need to aspire for and achieve their dreams.
We give students access to unique opportunities, such as work-taster days and job shadowing, giving them a clearer understanding of their career options.
We raise aspirations and future goals, with students feeling more motivated to pursue higher education or vocational training.
THE CHALLENGE
WE FACE
The cost of youth unemployment is forecast to be £2.5 billion and is on track to be £14.4bn over the next seven years (The Prince’s Trust, 2024)
72% of students from underserved communities have low aspirations. This demographic are also amongst the highest in youth suicide (R Goto, 2021).
Amongst young people the aspiration to have ‘an interesting job’ declined 22% between the ages of 14-17 (Calder and Cope, 2020).
OUR SOLUTION:
An education system that embeds soft skill development into the curriculum
Providing opportunities that allow young people to gain confidence and skills
Collaborative effort, that enriches young people's experiences and prospects
Empowering young people to become the highest, truest versions of themselves
HOW OUR PROGRAMME WORKS
The Essential Skills Module (12-weeks)
Focuses on personal development, resilience, and self-management. Students build critical thinking, communication, and adaptability skills, preparing them for real-world challenges.
Students are assessed three times during this module on their development and strengthening of essential skills, through a digital skill builder tracking and reporting system.
The Career Skills Module (12-weeks)
Broadens students' perspectives with career workshops, workplace visits, and mentorship. This aligns students' talents with viable career paths, inspiring them to aim higher.
We assess students' aspirations and attitudes towards their futures before and after the module to measure changes in their outlook and motivation.
The Beyond School Module (6-weeks)
Guides students in creating actionable post-programme plans, whether for higher education, entrepreneurship, or entering the workforce. This ensures each student leaves with a clear vision for their future.
We measure long-term impact and personal growth, ensuring that our efforts are making a sustained and meaningful difference.
Student Selection
Schools carefully select cohorts of up to 30 students, who fit our eligibility criteria. Schools also have the option of creating multiple cohorts.
By leveraging our school partnerships, we have created a strategic approach to student recruitment that ensures we reach the students who need our programme the most.
Mentors
Each student is paired with a dedicated mentor who provides ongoing support, guidance and encouragement.
To ensure the effectiveness and quality of our programme, mentors undergo comprehensive training covering various aspects of their roles, including the delivery of weekly skills workshops.
Funding
We offer our programme to schools 100% subsided with support from grants, donations and sponsorships.
*Schools enrolling in the programme pay a small registration fee of £27.50 per student (up to 30 students per cohort, per module).
SAFEGUARDING:
We recognise our responsibility and reinforce our commitment to creating environments where safety and wellbeing are prioritised by the due diligence we carry out, fostering a culture where staff and volunteers share this commitment.
Our Safeguarding Framework features a comprehensive safeguarding policy alongside detailed procedures that outline our responsibilities and strategies for ensuring the safety of everyone under our care.
If you would like to discuss a safeguarding issue, please call us on: 0207 101 3290