Residential Care, Education and Community Projects2012 STOKE-ON-TRENT COMMUNITY AWARDS Community...
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Residential Care, Education and Community Projects
Transcript of Residential Care, Education and Community Projects2012 STOKE-ON-TRENT COMMUNITY AWARDS Community...
Residential Care, Education and Community Projects
I think if it were not for Unity I would probably have been kicked out of school by now, which would have been bad because I am aboutto sit my GCSE’s.
Young person on theProgressionz Project.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDERS...Unity was started many years ago as a response to the local social problems
that we saw on a regular basis. From its humble beginnings as a community
project simply getting kids off the streets to now operating over numerous
regions with specialist services, Unity has established itself as a key provider in
the West Midlands.
When we launched the concept 12 years ago we just wanted to make a
difference to young people’s lives and ensure that they had the same equality
of opportunity that any other child would have, no matter what their barriers
were.
2016 has been a phenomenal year so far as we achieved Outstanding for the
second year running at some of our residential provisions, gained the Investors
in People standard and expect to have our biggest year of GCSE results at our
School since inception.
We want to thank everyone who has played a part in our success so far and
look forward to continuing to support our partner agencies in making a
significant difference in the communities in which they are working.
CONTENTS...
02 Awards Won
03 - 07 Unity Residential Care
08 - 13 Unity School
14 - 18 The Unity Foundation
19 Social Value
20 - 21 Recipe for Success
22 Our Services
Matt Wilcox Israel Amponsah
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AWARDS WON 2012 NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Contribution to the Community
2012 STOKE-ON-TRENT COMMUNITY AWARDS Community Champions
2011 LEARN MORE Young Learner of the Year
2011 LEARN MORE Most Active in the Community
2010 LEARN MORE COMMUNITY CHAMPION Israel Amponsah, Responsible Individual
2010 LEARN MORE Most Active in the Community
2010 LEARN MORE Best Use of Technology (2nd Place)
2009 SE100 Best Newcomer July 2009 (Social Enterprise Magazine)
2009 STOKE CHILDREN SAY YES AWARDS Gold Award
2007 NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS Matt Wilcox - Citizen of the Year
2007 NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS Young People Creative Skills Award
2007 NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS Young Adult Learner of the Year
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Unity provides a range of small children’s residential settings across the West Midlands.
2015/2016
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OUR VISION...
Our vision is to become the leading provider of high quality
residential care for young people across Staffordshire and
surrounding counties. We believe that by encouraging positive
personal development through a community based approach
together with increased opportunities in the arts, sports and culture,
we can offer a modern alternative to traditional care.
Managers and staff go beyond their roles and responsibilities to ensure children and young people feel welcomed and have a sense of belonging tothe home.May 2015
The home goes over and above to advocate for children and young people and proactively challenges other professionals to ensure they have the best opportunities in which to thrive educationally,physically, socially and emotionally.May 2015
Young people’s school attendance remains 100% and they actively engage in extra-curricular activities. This has led to widespread recognition. For example, a recent showcase event in the organisation featured young people playing in a band.February 2016
A therapist commented that ‘I have already seen an improvement in her ability to self-regulate’. She also comments in relation to staff ‘I have been veryimpressed with their approach’.January 2016
The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young peoplewho need help, protection and care.March 2016
Young people’s self-esteem and confidence are promoted through a wide range of varied and focused activities, both within and outside the home. Activities are planned and enjoyable, but also facilitated with purpose. They concentrate on developing social skills and relationships, and enjoying healthy living.March 2016
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WHAT OFSTED SAY...
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Hillside (Werrington)Oakfield (Weston Coyney)Beech Grove (Madeley)Lowes Corner (Kidsgrove)Hollyoaks (Draycott)Wellfield Cottage (Telford)Brook Cottage (Newport)Chestnuts (Telford)Lawnswood (Stourbridge)
OUR HOMES
Telford
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WHY CHOOSE US?Our living environments are high quality, spacious houses maintained to an excellent standard in
semi-rural and suburban locations. Our last inspection was OUTSTANDING.
We have a strong community focus and actively promote participation and interaction with local
positive activities.
We are an ethical care company. We deliver cost effective care solutions and are motivated more by
outcomes than simply profit margins.
We have access to our own Ofsted-registered Independent School judged in 2012 as GOOD.
We believe that the arts, sports and culture enrich young people’s lives and as such make provisions
available within all of our homes. We have been awarded Outstanding by Ofsted in the past two
consecutive years.
Both young people in placement gave the highest possible responses to an OFSTED questionnaire asking them whatthey think aboutthe home
OFSTED REPORT 2014.
Unity provides a range of small children’s residential settings across the West Midlands.
An award winningIndependent Schoolgraded as GOODby OFSTED.
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OUR ETHOS...Unity aims to provide equal opportunities for all young people to achieve and
develop into positive young citizens. For some this may require developing
existing skills and capabilities and for others it may mean exploring their
potential. For both it means a supportive and innovative way of working that
helps our young people become productive young adults.
OUR VISION...It is our vision to be the leading alternative provider to mainstream education
projects, programmes and activities in Staffordshire. We aim to engage,
empower and develop young people we work with to better outcomes both
personally and through levels of achievement.
UNITY SCHOOL AIMS...To create equality of opportunity for learning for all young people.
To promote a partnership approach to learning and school through school staff,
students, family, educational practitioners and wider agency partners.
To develop all students’ personal, social and emotional skills together with
improved confidence, self-esteem and sense of identity.
To prepare students to become productive and positive young adults with the
skills to enter further education or seek employment.
MESSAGE FROM THEHEAD TEACHER...Welcome to Unity Independent School
We started our educational services for young people because of our own
personal experiences as children growing up. We understand firsthand how
challenging mainstream school can be for some pupils and the behaviours,
barriers and emotions that can arise as a result.
Our educational programme is different to mainstream. We understand that
everyone is individual and different and in a smaller setting can cater to their
needs better. We know that, given the right level of support and style of
learning, a child can go on to be successful and achieve despite their previous
negative experiences or expectations of themselves.
We never give up on students we work with and personally work with each
child, every day, to make sure the service we are delivering is the best it
possibly can be.
Israel Amponsah
OUR SCHOOL ETHOS...The ethos of our school is about being different and offering an alternative to
mainstream education that identifies with the differences in young people, the
challenges they face and their aspirations.
We centre our strategy on empowerment and engagement through creative,
cultural and artistic pathways that intertwine with personal social development
activity. Our style of delivery suits the young people we work with because it is
vocationally led, has many transferable outcomes and sets small, progressive
and achievable targets.
We recognize that every young person is different and as such treat them this
way, offering support that is individualised and personal and which will generate
the best possible outcomes.
Based at the newly refurbished Cartwright House annex to the Mitchell
Memorial Theatre, our facilities offer modern learning environments and
amenities. Our school is centrally located to maximize accessibility from all
parts of the city with the ethos of both the youth theatre and Unity working in
synergy to embrace the arts and creativity through learning.
OUR ACADEMIC ETHOS...SMALL GROUPS AND HIGH LEVELS OF SUPPORT
High levels of individual attention are central to achieving our aims, and the
school’s excellent staff to pupil ratio is a minimum 1:6. Small class sizes mean
that teachers spend less time trying to control students, and spend more time
focusing on actually teaching and giving individual attention to each student to
support them with their own unique needs.
DISCOVERING AND DEVELOPING POTENTIAL AND ABILITY
Through assessment and partnership working across multi-agencies we are
able to fully assess the needs of each individual referred to our service. We are
then able to explore potential ability and preferences through a variety of
creative, cultural and sport based activities, environments and amenities. Unity
Independent School is not affiliated to any specific religion and values diversity
and equality in its everyday practice.
STUDENT ETHOS...EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE
An important part of growing up and becoming a productive young adult is
developing sufficient emotional resilience to cope with independence. We work
across multi-agencies and amend our own delivery styles to support young
people in achieving resilient and positive strategies to deal with issues and
problems.
BROADENING CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE
We believe that a broader range of cultural experiences complements the way a
young person grows up. Seeing a bigger city, travelling by train, visiting diverse
communities and tasting new foods all combine to raise aspirations and
ambitions.
RAISING ASPIRATIONS AND DEVELOPING POSITIVE ATTITUDES
Our staff team work hard to set a positive example and challenge negative
views and opinions. Our curriculum seeks opportunities to utilise issues and
attitudes as a source of exploration and learning in order to better equip young
people with knowledge of the outside world.
DEVELOPING SKILLS TO LEAD A PRODUCTIVE ADULT LIFE
We use vocational activities - our PHSEE curriculum and basic functional skills
development are the basis for progression into leading a productive life
economically and socially.
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CURRICULUM...Our school curriculum covers a wide variety of subjects that contribute to
our students’ personal, social and functional skills development. We give
everyone the opportunity to achieve through a variety of qualifications and
do our best to make the school day as involving, exciting and hands-on as
we can.
The subjects you will study & things that you will do at Unity are….
• Functional Skills Maths, English & ICT
• Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education
• Arts and Creativity
• Media Development
• Problem Solving
• Physical Education & Sport
• Cultural Trips & Activities
• Teambuilding Activities & Games
• Post 16 progression action planning -
What will I do when I leave school?
THE QUALIFICATIONSYOU WILL STUDY ATUNITY ARE...
AQA
AQA
AQA
AQA
AQA
AQA
Edexcel
Edexcel
Edexcel
Trinity College
Edexcel
Edexcel
Edexcel
Edexcel
GCSE
GCSE
GCSE
GCSE
GCSE
GCSE
Entry Level – Level 2
Entry Level – Level 2
Entry Level – Level 2
Entry Level – Level 2
Entry Level – Level 1
Entry Level – Level 1
Entry Level – Level 1
Entry Level – Level 1
English
Maths
Media Studies
Citizenship Studies
Physical Education
Art
Functional Skills: English
Functional Skills: Maths
BTEC in Retail Knowledgewith Home Cooking
Arts Award
BTEC: Sport & Active Leisure
BTEC: Creative Media Production
BTEC: Retail Knowledge
BTEC: IT Users
Unity is basically the school I wish that I went to.
Robbie Williams.
WHY CHOOSE US?Our living environments are high quality, spacious houses maintained to an excellent standard in
semi-rural and suburban locations. Our last inspection was OUTSTANDING.
We have a strong community focus and actively promote participation and interaction with local
positive activities.
We are an ethical care company. We deliver cost effective care solutions and are motivated more by
outcomes than simply profit margins.
We have access to our own Ofsted-registered Independent School judged in 2012 as GOOD.
We believe that the arts, sports and culture enrich young people’s lives and as such make provisions
available within all of our homes. We have been awarded Outstanding by Ofsted in the past two
consecutive years.
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An award winningIndependent Schoolgraded as GOODby OFSTED.
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The school has established strong links with parents, carers and outside agencies, including the local authority.
Ofsted Report October 2012
Unity School provides a good education for its students and it meets its stated aims well. As a result of a good curriculum, together with good teaching and assessment, students make good progress in their learning.
Ofsted Report October 2012
Before I came here teachers couldn’t even get me to write my name.
Student
I am proud of the longstanding relationship that Reach has with Unity and particularly impressed by the innovation and investment of a provider that is constantly striving to develop and improve services to enhance the learning experience of young people.
Ms L Mately - Head Teacher (Reach PRU - Stoke-on-Trent)
Creating local social change for young people and communities.
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WHO WE ARE...Unity was born in May 2005 as a response to the local social problems that
the directors saw on a daily basis. These included unemployment, families
living in poverty, low educational achievement, school exclusions and
children entering the care system.
By creating innovative and engaging projects that captured young people’s
attention, Unity began to establish itself as a leading provider of services for
children across North Staffordshire.
The main drivers of the opportunities Unity provides are the arts, sports and
cultural activity. We believe that once a child is presented with an opportunity to
participate, achieve and develop with role models and support they can
progress with the very best chance to lead a productive adult life.
The Unity Foundation is a Social Enterprise and therefore every penny that it
generates is reinvested back in to improve the services and facilities it provides
that will make our communities better places to live!
We never charge young people to participate in any activity we facilitate.
Pictured: Will Sherratt (Programme Director), Nick Roach (Creative Practitioner), Matt
Wilcox (Founder), Adam Wilton (Mentor) and Annie Sanderson (Creative Practitioner).
Music is a powerful tool to enrich the lives, skills and aspirations of young people everywhere.
Will Sherratt Programme Manager
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CASE STUDIES...Studio Hub
The Studio Hub gives young people with little or no access to music an
opportunity to learn, explore and participate in a positive enviornment with
other young people. We help young people develop their musical and artistic
skill with traditional and modern music making activities. This leads to the
development of confidence and self esteem, pivitol in creating a solid
foundation for achievement as they progress into being productive young
adults.
This project has been funded and supported by numerous agencies, most
notably the Staffordshire police and crime commissioner, who has supported
our efforts in giving young people positive developmental opportunities.
Summer Arts Colleges
We have been delivering Summer projects to young people in the justice
system for the past 10 years with the aim of reducing offending behaviour,
improving basic skills and ensuring they have the best opportunity to progress
into education or training when the new academic year begins. These Colleges
have been heavily supported by the Youth Justice Board and the Arts Council,
who reaped the rewards of significant reduction of offending behaviour and a
huge rise in the number of young people returning to education post project.
This project was most recently recognised at a celebration
hosted by the House of Lords and has been featured in
many reports and publications for finding innovative ways
of engaging young people at risk.
Primary Curriculum
We value music as an important tool in helping young people participate and
achieve. Our Primary Curriculum project works with younger children in some
of the most deprived neighbourhoods to ensure that they have opportunities
to express and learn in a creative way. These sessions have been been
developed in an inspiring way to contribute to each school’s musical targets
and help each school fulfil their responsibilities in regards to creative and
cultural development.
Progressionz
Progressionz is a 5 year joint-funded project between Unity and The Big
Lottery fund worth circa £375,000 aimed at supporting students in school who
are at risk of exclusion. Through our team of creative mentors we aim to
engage with 1000 young people over the project and make a dramatic impact
on their future life chances through access to new opportunities, qualifications
and support.
Through partnership working with each school we have been able to reduce
the numbers of exclusions and ensure that each child has the oppportunity to
complete an additional level 1 qualification in the arts. We have also been able
to assist young people in making positive choices in their progressional
pathways and steer them through their educational experience no matter what
issues or barriers they encounter.
Another job like this just doesnt exist. I spend my days teaching other young people the things that I love doing and I would never be ableto find a similair job.
Nick RoachCreative Practitioner and Mentor.
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Unity is committedto quality
28%of our Children’s Homes are
OUTSTANDING
Unity has raised over £10,000 towards improving the lives of children who are disadvantaged due to disability, Illness or severe poverty.
Pictured is Niamh Taylor, who defied the odds at birth after being born with Hypoplastic Left Heart syndrome. Brave Niamh went on a trip of a lifetime to Disneyland in May 2015 thanks to our staff and their fundraising.
Social ValueOur “Progressionz” project aims to deliver over
£8,800,000of social value
over 5 years
Unity is committed to creating employment opportunities...
42%growth inemployeesin 2014
Unity makes considerable and significant potential savings through a range of outcomes, in particular through increasing young people’s educational and career aspirations, reducing the risk of exclusion from school and reducing the risk ofyoung people committingcrime.
Dr Barbara Emadi-CoffinPrincipal Lecturer, Creative Communities Unit,Staffordshire University
Unity create social change...Since the Progressionz project has startedwe have engaged with 437 students...
83%increased confidence
59%achieved a level 1 qualification
56%have been signposted ontoadditional services
Unity are in demand
96% averageoccupancy
96%
Creating local social change for young people and communities.
SOCIAL VALUE...
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Qualifications
2012/201366 Qualifications
2013/201467 Qualifications
2014/201574 Qualifications
Unity School improves levels of acheivementyear on year for its students...
An alternative programmeof education for young people using cateringand hospitality.
Pictured: Will Sherratt (Programme Director), Nick Roach (Creative Practitioner), Matt
Wilcox (Founder), Adam Wilton (Mentor) and Annie Sanderson (Creative Practitioner).
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A new innovative programme that uses catering and hospitality as a mechanism of engagement with young people 13 – 16 in Staffordshire.
Delivered part time or in conjunction with our full time Independent School
offer, this programme will engage those who require a very vocational pathway.
Facilitated in a ‘learning’ kitchen at a fully refurbished modern restaurant, this
project fuses vocational learning with real work like-situations to create a robust
offer of specialist education.
• Developing the skills for independent living and positive self-care.
• Engaging young people in activities with multiple transferable skills.
• Promotion of health and wellbeing for young people and families.
• Improvement of opportunities to progress into an industry worth circa
£80 billion each year.
Students will progress with qualifications into the best possible opportunities
which may include college or apprenticeships.
Qualifications include:
• BTEC Home Cooking Skills
• BTEC Basic Cooking Skills
• BTEC Introduction to the Hospitality Industry
• Functional Skills English /Maths / ICT
• Food Hygiene
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Being on the recipe for success project has totally changed my outlook on life. It’s given me the best chance of being successfulwhen I’m older.
Young person, 16.
OUR SERVICES...WE PROVIDE...
• Residential care (medium to long term placements) across the West Midlands for young people• Education at our OFSTED registered school for young people 13-16• Transitional accomodation for young people aged 16-18• Creative projects, programmes and activities across North Staffordshire and Shropshire
We can also support young people who may display the following issues:• Multiple school exclusions• Emotional and behavioural difficulties• Sexual exploitation• Substance misuse• Attachment issues• Self harm
6 Kibblestone Road | Oulton | Stone | Staffordshire | ST15 8UW
Telephone: 01785 598 161
www.unityresidential.co.uk | www.unityschool.co.uk | www.theunityfoundation.co.uk
FOR REFERALS PLEASE CONTACT...
MONDAY - FRIDAY DURING OFFICE HOURS
Carol Ferris on 01785 598 161
or 07866 373 154
OUT OF HOURS PLACEMENTS
(24 HOURS)
Matt Wilcox on 07810 825 600
For more information about Unity
contact Matt Wilcox on 01785 598 161
or email [email protected]
