Branch Up delivers free Saturday activity days for 7 to 11 year olds and university student mentors, developing social and emotional skills to raise their expectations for the future. This programme currently runs in Southampton.
What is branch Up?
If young people attend free Saturday activity days with near to peer student leaders they will develop social emotional skills, self-belief and new relationships, ultimately raising their expectations to provide a better chance of success in future life.
The activity days focus on giving the young people access to new opportunities which may include engaging with culture, learning a new skill or getting active. We receive referrals from schools and local agencies to identify the young people who will benefit most from the intervention.
The students mentors build relationships with the young people, plan and deliver activities and support regular reflection with their mentees.
What’s the impact?
Branch Up aims to build young people’s expectations for the future. To meet this aim we ensure every young person who takes part in the programme:
- Develops key social and emotional skills including emotion management
- Experiences improved relationships with others
- Builds their self-belief
To achieve this our students are trained to create an environment which is safe, supported, respectful, interesting and challenging. An environment which supports key social and emotional skill development.
In 2021-22
100%
partners agreed they observed a positive improvement in young people’s self-belief
67%
partners agreed they observed a positive improvement in young people’s expectations
100%
partners agreed they observed a positive improvement in young people’s social skills
Prior to Branch Up, I have mostly worked with children with special needs. Although I was aware, I had not had the exposure to the many social and cultural differences until I arrived in the UK. Branch Up works with kids from different circumstances and needs, and I am very keen on learning how I can help the children and the cause. I feel ready more than ever to make social change and I hope to apply what I learn back home.
Mathanki Sivapatham, Southampton Hub volunteer