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New personal development club for Feltham youngsters
30 June 2004
Today sees the launch of a new Prince’s Trust XL Club for young people at Feltham Community College supported by Bupa. The new club kicks off at the college in Browells Lane this September and from 2pm today there will be a celebration of all those involved including members of the Prince’s Trust XL Clubs, Bupa and Feltham Community College governors, staff and pupils.
Deliberately informal these UK wide clubs aim to help young people who are facing difficulties at school to develop wider skills such as Problem Solving, Working with Others and Improving Own Learning to help prepare them for life outside school. The September launch is part of a bigger Bupa and Prince’s Trust initiative with two other XL pilot clubs due to begin simultaneously in two schools based in Brighton and Salford.
XL clubs operate in schools on a closed two-year programme with between 12 and 15 members. They meet for at least three hours a week, and guided by an XL club Adviser, club members are encouraged to work together to achieve goals relating to their education, training and future lives. Bupa volunteers will also be getting involved in the sessions over the two-year period to work with the XL Club advisors in each school.
Monica Owen, Bupa’s community affairs manager, says: "This new XL club being introduced here at Feltham Community College is one of three clubs Bupa is supporting with the aim of helping youngsters to help themselves. As a major employer in the Feltham, Brighton and Salford areas, Bupa is keen to encourage its staff to get involved with these three XL clubs offering mentoring and practical support as part of the clubs programmes."
Since the Prince’s Trust XL clubs were first introduced back in 1999 over 12,500 15 and 16 year olds have participated, aiming to help increase their self-esteem and motivation as well as enhancing their sense of citizenship and community awareness.
The format of these clubs is team-based and enables children between ages of 14 and 16 to volunteer on programmes of self-development in their last two years of compulsory schooling. The programme will particularly benefit those teenagers facing difficulties at school such as truanting, the risk of exclusion and underachieving.
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