Prince's Trust xl club

BUPA is a strong supporter of the Prince's Trust xl clubs, with its most successful scheme running in Feltham since 2004. Volunteers from BUPA Teddies, Twickenham, invite young people from the community to the Teddies nursery to learn a variety of different skills and interact with staff members and the children.

Read about a community champion's recent trip to India with the Prince's Trust.

BUPA volunteers work with the Prince's Trust on a personal development curriculum that promotes achievement and encourages success. Deliberately informal, xl clubs seek to re-engage and motivate young people. Its members learn to take responsibility, develop social skills and enjoy the benefits of teamwork.

The Prince's Trust xl Award is accredited by ASDAN (Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network) and recognises the development of xl club members. The Award can be achieved at three levels; xl Bronze, xl Silver and xl Gold, all reflecting the development of a broad range of competencies through the xl curriculum. In addition to developing competencies, xl Silver and xl Gold can also provide accreditation of wider skills such as working with others, improving own learning and problem solving.

Evaluation has demonstrated that young people who take part in xl clubs consistently show:

• improved attendance and punctuality
• increased completion of their final year
• an increase in the number of qualifications attempted
• improved quality of evidence for National Record of Achievement
• improved behaviour in school and social situations
• improved confidence and self-esteem
• enhanced citizenship and community awareness
• increased awareness of the world of work.