Get on Track programme supports community engagement

Participants on a Get on Track programme in Kent recently completed a scavenger hunt around Gillingham to test their local knowledge, encourage them to work on their English language skills and to mark the end of what has been a fantastic programme.

Dame Kelly Holmes Trust’s Get on Track is a wellbeing programme for young people aged 16-25 delivered in a community setting, where young people need it most. Working with a diverse range of young people, the programme is designed to build confidence, resilience and self-esteem, as well as focusing on becoming physically and mentally healthier. Over the past weeks and months, we have been working with young people in Kent who are unaccompanied adults or refugees from far flung and war-torn countries.

Across the programme our athlete mentors on the programme, Claire Bennett, Commonwealth Gold medallist fencer, and former GB Champion boxer, Hannah Beharry have met and mentored young people from Sudan, Cameroon, Pakistan, Afghanistan and more. Over the course of the programme, they have been sharing their insight and experience from the world of elite sport and have seen some fantastic changes in the young people who have been regularly attending the sessions.

With the support of funder Virtual School Kent (VSK) and local delivery partner Swale Community Leisure, we have provided the group with a Champion in their Corner. Across the 20-session programme they have been working on improving confidence as they navigate a new way of life and have focused on employability prospects.

The group exploring the town of Gillingham during their social action project

Social Action project showed the tremendous progress of the young people

With many of the young people not having English as a first language, the social action project was designed to bring them out of their comfort zone, improving their local knowledge and encouraging them to utilise and improve their English language skills – designed by Claire, Hannah and Ben from Swale Leisure, the young people had one hour to find some key landmarks in and around the town of Gillingham, Kent.

The town has a rich army heritage with barracks not far from the town centre, a World War II memorial towering over the Gillingham and Chatham skyline, plus the Chatham Dockyards –using this local information, the young people had to navigate their way to, and collect photos of the landmarks to earn points. For bonus points they had to get photos with people in uniform, whether that be local police officers or post workers, to help them integrate with key members of the local community.

Over the course of the programme, one of the group, Mayo, has been a big help to Claire, Hannah and Ben. Coming from Sudan, he had learned English before he came to the UK, and has supported with translation with the rest of the young people. During the course of the scavenger hunt it was clear that his leadership skills and confidence have developed during his time on the programme.

Reflecting on the social action project and the progress the young people have made, Claire said: "It was a fantastic team effort with the group spending time in their local community getting to know the different landmarks within the scavenger hunt. Hannah and I are so proud of how well the group have come together and supported each other through challenging times. Ever since we started the programme, they have shown commitment, resilience and a desire to meet new people and build a sense of togetherness within the group that will serve them well in the future. They have formed lifelong bonds and have built confidence in their communication and ability to achieve their personal goals. Settling into a new country and a completely new way of life is not easy, especially as a young person with no real family around them. They always arrive with a smile on their face, and we have no doubt their determination and strong work ethic will take them very far.”

We’ve got further stories to come from this incredible programme, including Mayo’s journey on the programme, so stay tuned to our social and digital channels for more in the coming weeks.