Meet just some of the people who we have helped

Steven Faure is one of the people who have been helped by the School of Hard Knocks, a London-based charity which helps unemployed young people realise their potential, and one of The Quilter Foundation’s strategic partners.

Steven would be the first to admit that his background was not the most pleasant; being affiliated with gangs and making the wrong choices, resulting in negative impact on himself and the people around him. After the death of a close friend, Steven decided it was time to change. He soon found the School of Hard Knock’s course, and was attracted by the boxing element. From day one, Steven stood out in the boxing sessions, due to his natural talent, humble nature, and his contribution to helping others improve.

Facilitators, Jim and Cheryl, discussed Steven’s potential as a boxing coach with him, and he agreed that this was a route he wanted to go down. Steven secured a role as a coach for 3pillars Project, a sports based charity with programmes designed to support young people at risk of committed crime. He also works with Fight for Change - another local charity within the Black Prince Community Hub (the site of the School of Hard Knocks courses in South London) and is currently studying to get his L3 in boxing. Steven continues to support SOHK by helping to deliver their Friday morning ‘drop in session’.

Henry* joined Winchester and District Young Carers in April 2022, when he was 8 years old and caring for his dad who has cerebral palsy which affects his mobility.

Henry was initially visited in school by a staff member of the charity, where he was able to share his thoughts and feelings about his role as a young carer. He had a good understanding of his caring role and felt proud to help his dad. He was, however, lacking confidence, and consequently found it hard to engage with new things. He sometimes exhibited challenging behaviour, possibly because he bottled up his feelings.

Initially Henry did not want to attend the Young Carers Exploration Programme. He was very nervous and would not walk through the door. Staff worked with him to build his confidence and with support and patience from staff and volunteers, he completed his first session.

Knowing that Henry was finding it difficult to engage, staff and volunteers ensured there was a plan in place. The aim was to create consistency and allow him to build some positive attachments that would help him feel secure.

By the fourth session, Henry was happily attending sessions and beginning to share more about himself with the group. By the sixth session, Henry was literally bursting through the door, and independently taking part in activities. Towards the end of the term Henry was putting himself forward to share first in the group, and offered to read aloud to the group members.

Henry was also offered a programme of activities and attended an evening of rock climbing where he built his confidence to go all the way to the top!

The feedback from Henry’s dad’s feedback was heart-warming. He shared how the family had seen a positive change in Henry. His confidence has really grown and he is now able to talk about his feelings and explain and articulate what he is experiencing. This has led to a change in behaviour at school and home. Dad also shared the change in relationship between himself and Henry - it has become even better because they now have more of an understanding of one another.

At the beginning of 2023, JD* completed a 4-week intensive course with the School of Hard Knocks, a London-based charity which helps unemployed young people realise their potential, and one of The Quilter Foundation’s strategic partners.

JD’s future was a state of disarray as he had an upcoming court date for being present when criminal activity was taking place among a group of his friends. This was something that he’d been on the fringes of since “as long as I can remember”. Without ever being fully immersed in criminality, he admitted that the lifestyle is “just a part of life” where he grew up and it was difficult to separate himself from his friends.

He was referred to the School of Hard Knocks from his local job centre who – based on a long-standing relationship – thought that the charity’s unique blend of exercise and practical support might be able to help him. He had started a CCTV training course but had not completed the last module of this. Time was of the essence as it was nearing the cut off for him to complete this.

He threw himself into the boxing we offer and although he initially kept himself to himself, he was a hard worker and gave thought to the recommendations that the coach and facilitators gave him.

Two weeks into the course with benefit of the classroom sessions and 1-1’s, he made the decision to go back and finish the last module of his training course and obtained his CCTV operative qualification.

One of the Senior Course Facilitators included this in a supporting statement to be read to the court in his upcoming sentencing date and the fact that he was now actively applying for job roles as a CCTV operator.

Since the course has finished, JD has started work.  The evidence of the efforts that he has taken to change the path of his life resulted in a suspended sentence.

JD says “As long as I keep going with this path, I know I can stay out of trouble and live a decent life. I didn’t think it would turn out the way it has when I joined SoHK but I’m just glad that I came”.

We are so grateful to The Quilter Foundation for their incredibly kind donation of £5,000 last year towards Meningitis Now’s Believe & Achieve programme.

The funding that we have received from organisations including The Quilter Foundation has enabled our charity to develop this unique support programme to help young people aged 11-25, who are at a crucial stage as they take their next step towards rebuilding a positive future after meningitis.

In the last 12 months:

• We have positively changed 86 young lives
• 3 young people have been supported by a peer or business mentor to work towards their goals
• 22 young people have been supported with life coaching
• 3 young people have received counselling to help them come to terms with their meningitis experience

“I would like to share a huge thanks to you guys and everything you did to help me - without the life coaching and laptop, I don’t think I would have finished my degree and now have a job as a nurse!”

“I never have the confidence to talk to any stranger let alone about my meningitis. I feel like a different person when I’m in the sate space that is Believe & Achieve.’

“Before joining Believe & Achieve I admit full heartedly that I was neglecting my mental health. After joining, I have greatly improved my self-care routine and my mental health. I know that if I am struggling in any way – whether emotionally or academically – there is always someone out there willing to help.”