Through our extensive experience working with adults it became apparent that people were often unhappy and unmotivated in their jobs due to lack of support and direction in relation to career choices earlier in their lives. To address this issue we created STAR, an exciting new resource aimed at 14-19 year olds to help them to:
- Understand more about who they are
- Explore what they really want from their life
- Develop self-reliance and life management skills
- Make more informed choices about their future
- Develop a practical plan to help them to achieve their ambitions
- Be inspired to realise their true potential
- Enjoy what they do now and in the future
Working through specialist training programmes allows interested parties to experience the concept first hand and, if they feel able, go on to become a 'Champion' and deliver the STAR with conviction and enthusiasm.
We provide our 'Champions' with all the support needed to deliver STAR to the young people they work with, by helping them to shape the programme and define the best ways to deliver it within their chosen context. Once accredited as STAR Champions, individuals can deliver the programme to young people for a period of twelve months – within their organisation, school, group or designated area. Our Champions Programmes are also an opportunity to share best practice and innovative ideas with fellow professionals.
Licensees can deliver STAR in a number of formats either within or outside of the school environment. Within school STAR offers a new framework for guidance supported by an innovative ‘toolkit’ to help 14-19 year olds realise their true potential. STAR complements other initiatives such as; CEG programmes, Enterprise, Citizenship, PSHE and Work Related.
Outside schools the programme can be delivered by leaders within Sports Clubs, Girl Guides and Scouts, Make Your Mark, Youth Clubs, Young Offenders Programmes and Volunteering Programmes
Feedback from young people and teaching staff has been excellent and with the continued support of NWDA under the Workwise project we are now disseminating the resource across the region. If you work with young people and you are passionate about providing them with the skills they need, contact us.
If you would like to listen to participants talk about the STAR programme click on the video testimonials below.
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Staff and tutors from Shorefields Technology College, Greenbank College and Connexions talk about the STAR programme. Click to view video
Students from Shorefields Technology College talk about the STAR programme Click to view video
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After attending the Windmills STAR Champions training, Helen Hawkins the Connexions Personal Advisor at Shorefields (an 11-18y secondary community comprehensive school, with 991 children) decided to offer the STAR programme to students from year 11 and 12. The STAR programme was delivered in eight, 1 hour sessions over a period of eight weeks. Seven students from year 11 and 19 students from year 12 attended the programme.
I got engaged with it because I felt that the young people would actually get something out of it. We do one-to-one interviews with the young person but because this was a programme that ran over eight weeks we could actually spend time looking at their skills, looking at their treasures and passions, looking at their ambitions and their roles and then developing their 'golden ticket'- what they want to be doing in five years time.
Helen Hawkins, STAR Champion
The STAR programme in Shorefields was enhanced by the involvement of other outside organisations including, Greenbank College who were able to offer interested students work tasters. Students also benefited greatly from the opportunity to see and speak to Kofi a.k.a. Young Kof, one of the founders of URBEATZ who in their own inimitable style illustrated the role they had to play in creating their own Urban Music Company. At the end of the programme students were invited to a celebration ceremony at Greenbank College during which they were awarded certificates for completing the STAR programme.
From an individual perspective the STAR programme proved very beneficial for the students with many reporting increased levels of self-awareness, motivation and confidence. Lots of positive comments were made about the approach adopted in this particular programme and the young people appreciated the opportunity to meet and interact with people from outside school.
The star programme helped me to understand what I wanted to do in the future because it made me compare my passions with my skills and it's helped me to properly understand what I really want to do now. I didn't have any idea at first but it just clips everything together for you.
Laura Ashley Dineley, year 12
Well I have learnt how to become more confident with things, how to sell myself by telling people my skills and abilities and not being ashamed to say them.
I feel they treat you like adults. They let you make your own decisions, they don't pressure you into any decisions they let you make your own mind up about what you want to do.
Harry Crocket, year 12
From a much wider perspective the teaching staff at Shorefields were also able to identify significant benefits for the students and for the school as a whole.
The benefits of running the star programme have been widespread. First of all to the individual student, it's helped raise their self-esteem, it's given them confidence and knowledge but from a wider perspective it's served as a motivator to help keep young children in education.
The Star Programme is delivered by trainers other than teachers and this is an important aspect of the child's education, they meet a much wider personnel. It also prepares them for the world of work and beyond.
Julia Brown, Head of Shorefields Sixth Form
Because there were so many people in the room at the same time it was more peer based and it was like they were in a meeting sort of, in a careers sort of situation rather than in a teaching led lesson, they're finding things out for themselves and discussing it with each other and other people so I think it was different to a lesson and as a result I think a lot of them took a bit more out of it than they would do normally because it was something out of the norm.
I would definitely say that it gives the kids more focus and when they've got the focus then they are more driven to do well in school, they know the topics that they want to try hard at and excel at.
Tom Collinson Tutor- Shorefields Sixth Form
Building on the superb success of this initial STAR programme Helen Hawkins is currently running another programme for a further 20 students and she will be working with a small group of NEET clients for Connexions. Encouraged and inspired by their involvement with Shorefields STAR programme tutors from Greenbank College have also attended the STAR Champions training and will be running the STAR programme for their own students.
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