ABOUT US

Social & Emotional Learning

Empowering People to Overcome Challenges

We help individuals address key issues in their lives and explore the resulting behavioural patterns that can see them stuck in negative situations or environments.

  • The majority of the determining factors in our psychological make-up are things we are exposed to in our younger years. Without external support or intervention, people tend to retain the same beliefs and perpetuate the same behaviours that their parents, older siblings or other close family members adopted. 
  • Unlike cognitive ability and personality, social and emotional skills can be developed at any age. By working with individuals from a young age, individuals are empowered to make positive decisions earlier, allowing them to make the most of opportunities.
  • Our activities focus on the education and empowerment of young people through social and emotional learning. These activities range from working with a small group of young people to thousands, from pre-school to adulthood. 
Our work falls within four distinct areas:

  • Education and employment
  • The provision of safe spaces
  • Social inclusion
  • The research, development and promotion of social and emotional learning

What Is Social & Emotional Learning?

Social and emotional learning refers to the development of social and emotional skills that make up our emotional intelligence. These skills include self-awareness, motivation and self-control, and have a positive effect on our social skills, self-esteem, and emotional wellbeing and resilience. Developing these skills helps us:

Why Is It Important?

These skills are vital in helping us navigate an often-unforgiving world and can make the difference in us achieving our aspirations or not.

According to a 2015 government-backed report, a lack of social and emotional development can have an adverse effect on our long-term personal and professional lives. These findings include an understanding that, compared to our cognitive abilities, these skills have a similar effect on, or matter more to:

• Mental well-being
• Health and health-related outcomes
• Income and employment outcomes

Worryingly, the report also found inequalities in these skills between young people from different economic backgrounds. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity for growth and by helping people develop these skills from a young age this can go a long way towards preventing long-term personal and societal harm whilst easing social mobility.

“Years of research and practice have shown us that the way to ensure the success and quality of life for young people is to focus on their strengths. Building a solid base of social and emotional skills are keys to unlocking this success and potential. This is best achieved when individuals are offered a sense of purpose by tapping into a process of discovery, [teaching them] how their unique talents meet their passions. We now have a sufficient foundation for [understanding] how to help all young people look inward and empower them to find [strengths] within themselves.”

– Dr Heath Grant, Foundation Trustee

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