Aspire project

The Aspire project is a scheme, funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), to work with young people at risk of extra familial harm. It contributes to a contextual safeguarding approach to adolescent risk. The project started September 2021 and will end December 2023. 

Funding

The project has received up to £998,852.09 of funding from the England European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Department for Work and Pensions are the managing authorities for ESF funding through the Growth Programme. 

The purpose of the project

To ensure children and young people affected by criminal exploitation remain included and engaged in education, training and employment. This is a key factor in reducing risk and increasing life chances. 

The team

The scheme will be run by a team of experienced education, training and employment professionals who are part of the Targeted Youth Support Team within our children's social care services. The team has:

• Vital skill sets in relationship-based practice and informal learning with adolescents
• Experience across primary, secondary and further education
• Experience of mainstream schools, complex needs schools and youth work services
• Experience of designing and delivering interventions to address and promote behaviours for learning

Project activity

The team will:

• Provide support, enable or assist the young person with access to education and training
• Promote inclusive practice and effective provision for young people who are struggling to access education or training successfully

They will do this by:

• Meeting with the young person to offer support and develop person centred, targeted plans to help them achieve positive outcomes
• Discussing cases with youth support workers
• Meetings with schools and local education and training providers
• Liaising with other teams including learning and inclusion teams, safer schools and fair access

ESF funding will also contribute to Norfolk’s prevention and early help work. It will enable us to work with children and young people, schools, and other education settings to help raise awareness of exploitation.