There is no grand claim: we know they work. They are influenced by tried and tested youth work approaches in the UK and US, such as the Brathay Trust in the Lake District and the Harlem Children’s Zone in New York. We carry out rigorous research and evaluation with the University of Bristol, testing and adapting each programme to understand what works and how we can be most effective.

Our model of working is based on long-term work with communities which we know has the most powerful impact. Our activities last throughout the year, sometimes for several years. Some of the young people on current programmes have been working with us for five years, beginning in year 8 and now at a FE college or sixth form.