Twenty feet high on a cliff-top in the Peak District, a young woman is preparing to launch herself off ­— she’s harnessed and ready for an abseiling experience, putting her trust and faith in the equipment and the qualified guide she barely knows.

This is no adventure holiday though… this is part of the Prince’s Trust Team programme for disadvantaged young people in Mansfield, run by the Inspire and Achieve Foundation.

The team programme is a 12-week course targeted at young people aged between 16 and 25 who, through no fault of their own, have fallen on hard times — whether they’ve grown up in care or become carers themselves, have experienced neglect, mental health issues or more.

While these young people take part in confidence-building activities, putting themselves outside their comfort zones on a residential experience, they’re also asked to do much more.

Amongst other activities that make up the 12-week programme, the individuals are expected to participate in mock interviews, CV writing, two weeks’ work experience, and undertake volunteering in the community.

Not only does the programme help build confidence of the individuals, it also provides them with the opportunity to experience independence and the responsibility that comes with it.

It’s been 18 months since the programme was established with funding from Mansfield Building Society’s Charitable Trust, and this is the 50th group of young people to go through the scheme.

More than 50 people have now graduated and the programme has been hugely successful — 88% of young people passing through it have secured employment or gone back into education and training.

The abseiling activity took place on Mental Health Awareness Day and it was startling to find out that half of the Prince’s Trust programme attendees had some form of mental health challenge already.

Barry Holliday, a Prince’s Trust team leader at Inspire and Achieve, gave the example of an individual on the current scheme, who suffered from anxiety at school. His condition meant he was unable to complete his schooling and his absence led to him falling in with a wrong crowd.

While it would be easy to judge people on appearances, Barry’s compassionate attitude was heart-warming as he told me: “There are no bad eggs, just those rough round the edges.”

Jacob Graley, another team leader, said the programme had vastly surpassed his expectations: “When I started my role
I was intrigued to see how things would go, but now it’s easy to see the success that we’re having with these young people. The transformation that we see in many of the individuals over the 12-week programme is incredible.”

Pippa Carter, director, is keen to stress how the programme links to some of the other schemes that the foundation has set up, and how they’re looking to build on the success.

She said: “When I came up from London, I could see that the outreach activities for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people were lacking in Mansfield. That’s why we set up boxing and football sessions — giving young people the opportunity to come to us on their terms without any stigma attached.

“Once we’re able to make contact with them we can talk about the different schemes that we do, including mentoring and the Prince’s Trust.

“The team programme has been hugely successful, so we’ve expanded into other areas of Nottinghamshire now too — we’ve already extended the scheme into Ashfield.

“If someone’s not quite ready for the team programme, we offer mentoring support to manage any issues and barriers to help young people move their lives forward.”

Not everyone has been fortunate enough to have opportunities and support from the start, so for these young people, Inspire and Achieve’s Prince’s Trust Team programme is providing the guidance, coaching and encouragement they need to take those crucial tentative early steps towards an exciting, independent and rewarding life ahead.

Inspire and Achieve run free non-contact boxing sessions every Thursday, from 1-3pm, at Body and Soul Gym, Mansfield. A free football kick-about takes place every Friday, from 1-3pm, at River Maun Recreation Centre.
For more information, including how to support them and donate, visit www.inspireachieve.co.uk

Mansfield Building Society’s Charitable Trust is funded by the Society’s Community Saver Accounts.

For further information about the accounts and the Charitable Trust visit www.mansfieldbs.co.uk