Handling Change
Every summer, the Oasis Schools Team runs a week away for young people in Lambeth who are moving from primary to secondary school. The young people who come on the week away have already been mentored in their primary school by our team, after having been referred to us for because they are likely to struggle in their transition to secondary school.
However, this summer we couldn't secure funding for a whole week away, and so ran a Summer Day Out in Waterloo instead, including a trip to the London Eye. The aim of the day was to enable young people to meet others who are moving to secondary school, and to take part in workshops exploring organizational and social skills.
Amy, a member of the team, said, "It's a fantastic opportunity for the young people to realize they can have a new start at secondary school. Many of them feel that they are stuck in a rut of bad behaviour at primary school and that teachers will never think differently about them. In fact, some need reminding that they can behave well, and that this is the ideal opportunity to do just that!"
What the young people had to say:
"I know more about new people and I was good for once in my life!!"
"It's been....PERFECT because if I was not here I would be outside being bad and getting myself into trouble."
"Doing this is one of the best things I did."