Breakthrough Programme

After securing funding from the Catalyst Fund; one of our Proton Associates Andy Hamill was able to deliver a ten-week programme of activities to a group of eight young people who were aged 14 and were at risk of exclusion from their school, Highfields College of the Arts in Derbyshire, UK. The programme's aim was to help these young people get back on track at school.

At the centre of this ten-week programme was the The Pacific Institutes “Breakthrough Course” which was jointly facilitated by Proton’s Andy Hamill and a colleague of Andy’s from the Dreamcatchers organisation from Manchester. Added to this core facet was a number of activities including outdoor and sporting activities, first aid course, environmental education and dry stone walling.

Activities took place in the morning and the Breakthrough Course material was delivered afterwards. The aim being to use the various activities to bring the TPI material to life and make it tangible. The aims were achieved according to Andy Hamill when he expressed: “It certainly worked. For example we took the group climbing on the second week. Many approached the climb with great apprehension, truly believing they couldn’t climb it. After some encouragement, the whole group made it up and down the crag. Their blind spot had been overcome, their own truth overturned. It is great to be able to take that back into the classroom and relate it to a situation in the groups life or an ambition they believe they can’t fulfill.”

This course was the first of it’s kind in the area and we are excited about it’s success. The group now feels more confident and realise that they are in control of their own future. They have been given the tools to overcome the barriers in their lives. In addition to this, the group gained three accreditations including a John Muir Award, First Aid certificate and The Pacific Institute’s Breakthrough Certificate.

Further funding has been secured to run a further three courses in High Peak and Derbyshire Dales area which means that a further three groups of at-risk teenagers will have the opportunity to unlock the key in their own lives to step above and beyond in achievements and their belief in their personal potential.

Andy commented recently saying, “I think there is going to be a greater demand for this sort of work within schools. The schools new SEB’s (social, emotional and behavioral skills) curriculum is going to demand it. The TPI material feeds directly into it. It presents us with a fantastic opportunity to be of a real, tangible benefit to the schools in our areas.”

If you want any more information on the ten-week programme or want to be involved in the process of seeing something similar take place in your area please feel free to contact Andy Hamill on Mobile 07962 20 55 02.