ESSENTIAL SKILLS & confidence TO LAST A LIFETIME
At Spiral Skills, we are privileged to work with 1000 extraordinary young people a year. These 14 -25-year-olds often come from communities grappling with significant socio-economic disparities and lack the support systems and access to opportunities essential for success. With diverse learning styles and needs, or English as their additional language, they face complex challenges that can lead to isolation or educational exclusion. We believe society is missing out on a wealth of untapped potential among these young trailblazers.
OUR 2023 HEADLINES
Spiral is committed to cutting-edge impact measurement so that we can strive to improve our programmes and outcomes for young people continually. As a founding member of The Skills Builder Framework, we have been awarded the Impact Level 4 for our provision, the highest level in developing and measuring essential skills. Below are some highlight statistics from a sample of 100 young particpants .
Post-programme the number of young people answering positively (agree/strongly agree) to the following statements…
WE DEVELOP SKILLS, ATTITUDES & ASPIRATIONS
WHY ARE skills focused INTERVENTIONS SO vital?
According to the Skills Builder Impact Calculator, skills focused interventions can mean young people…
Spiral first encountered Jhemar during our 2015 summer program when he was just 14 years old. His journey with us began years earlier when he met our founder, Ben, at a local after-school club at the age of 10. Throughout the programme, Jhemar immersed himself in various activities and connected with professionals from the media industry, thanks to the guidance of his mentor, Ciaran, a valued collaborator at Spiral. Despite facing a devastating loss - the tragic death of his brother to knife crime during his teenage years - Jhemar continued to exude infectious positivity and unmatched energy.
Inspired by Jhemar's resilience, he and Ciaran co-authored the impactful book, 'Cut Short: Why We Are Failing Our Youth & How to Fix It.' Today, Jhemar stands as a passionate advocate for his community, from grassroots initiatives to parliamentary advocacy.
Over the past decade, Jhemar has remained deeply involved with Spiral, now serving as the Youth Chair of our Board of Advisors. He transitioned from being a programme participant to a Lead Facilitator of our Engage Programmes, where he empowers young people who have been excluded from the education system by building trust and providing support.
In 2022, Jhemar joined the Lambeth Peer Action Collective, a collaborative effort aimed at creating violence-free futures. Together, they developed a comprehensive manifesto, which they presented to Parliament. Additionally, Jhemar became involved in the Ecosystem Coldharbour Consortium's violence reduction initiative and co-founded the Young People's Movement, empowering future leaders to drive change in their communities.
Beyond his community involvement, Jhemar pursues his passion for music under the alias 'Rippa,' producing and performing his own tracks. His journey led him to connect with Annie Mac during a podcast discussing the release of 'Cut Short,' and he is now produced by Toddla T.
Jhemar epitomizes the resilience, ambition, and determination of young people affected by violence. His story underscores the transformative impact of mentorship, training, and access to opportunities in enabling individuals to thrive.
jhemar’s story
“ Spiral is a very professional organisation whose ethos is very much aligned with our own: there is no limit to what young people can achieve, regardless of whether they attend Alternative Provision.
Over the years, we have seen tangible results in both hard and soft outcomes. Students have learned to work together, to problem-solve, to have confidence in their abilities, and to reflect in a structured and productive way.
Several students have completely changed their attitude and approach following participation in a Spiral programme. The approach suits students who are more withdrawn and anxious and those who communicate their reluctance to engage in more challenging ways. I can state quite categorically that students’ life chances have been transformed by this intervention.”