A North-East charity is helping young people in the region to come up with innovative ways to fulfil their potential. Stuart Arnold reports

OVER the past 22 years The Key has supported more than 4,000 young people aged 11-25 living in the North-East, the majority of whom, but not all, face barriers in moving forward, whether it be low educational attainment or simply difficulty in finding work.

However it’s fair to say most members of the general public won’t have heard of the organisation’s relatively unheralded successes. The Key programme, its flagship programme, engages young people in small teams and motivates them to explore their own ideas and aspirations. They are then given the chance to design, plan, budget, pitch and ultimately deliver their own projects. The aim is to allow them to achieve 12 measurable social and life skills, including decision making, negotiation and problem solving, while also being given the chance to assess their own performance along the way.

Projects dreamt up can be anything from kayaking around the UK, setting up a small business, organising a fund raising event or arranging a sports tournament abroad. Either way the young people involved must challenge themselves. Their reward is funding paid in stages – on average The Key, which is based in Newcastle, gives about £250,000 every year to all those who take part in its programmes with a panel determining who gets what. That cash is made possible by funding from trusts and foundations such as Esmee Fairbairn, the Big Change Charitable Trust and the Rank Foundation.

“We believe all young people have the power to be great,” says Sarah Jenson, The Key’s deputy chief executive officer. “We want young people and those around them to believe it too. Our mission is to help young people identify their passions and develop their skills and inner strengths in order to achieve success in their lives.”

An integral part of what The Key does is its network of trained facilitators – some 530 in all – volunteers who work with young people to help develop their skills and confidence. One of these is retired teacher Philip Boyle, MBE. The 65-year-old’s lengthy association with Hummersknott Badminton Club, in Darlington, began when he set up the club in 1974. Players from the club have been among the beneficiaries of The Key programme, organising and playing international tournaments at home and abroad with the money they have received from taking part.

One group ran an eight team international tournament in Sheffield, while last year a tour of Italy was organised. At the other end of the spectrum an end of school term treat to Laser Quest saw youngsters learn how to budget for their trip.

“The thing with The Key is I have seen the lift it gives young people,” says Mr Boyle. “It also allows for contrasts in activities and ability levels. Our involvement has been a great success and we continue to make plans for the next few years.

“Developing life skills is integral to these projects. The young people are assessed regularly. It proves to facilitators that communication skills are sadly lacking in many young people, yet vital improvements have been made for many students through what has been necessary for completing their projects. These skills will be of huge value to all of them in many their future endeavours.”

Another programme, Kerching, uses hands-on, real life experiences to help youngsters effectively manage their own finances and avoid sliding into debt. Meanwhile, a new initiative from The Key is ‘Boomerang’ – a crowdfunding platform which aims to give young people the tool they need to move onto bigger and better things and raise cash for their next big idea.

According to Sarah Jenson giving young people ownership of their own plans and projects means they are more committed, focused and likelier to do things well. “Although the projects we see are often fantastic and create social value in their own right, what's most important to us is the developmental journey the young people undertake,” she adds.

There are lots of ways to get involved with The Key, whether as a young person, volunteer, fund raiser or organisation who might want to use its programmes, expertise and resources in the delivery of youth provision. For more information go to www.yourpotentialunlocked.org.uk or call (0191) 2238801.