“Decreased school funding alongside rigorous accountability measures have forced schools to make tough decisions about what they deliver to their pupils. Often the first thing to go in schools are activities which develop social and emotional skills and wellbeing such as extra-curricular activities, pastoral care or beyond-curriculum learning. The Fair Education Alliance recognizes the importance of an education system that develops the whole child – one that promotes skills and wellbeing alongside academic attainment. That is why we are delighted to be supporting the development of Yes Futures new product ‘My Strengths Toolbox’ that builds students’ confidence, encouraging them to consider their strengths, develop key goal-setting techniques, and apply these to their future plans. The Toolbox builds on Yes Futures award-winning personal development programmes that empower disadvantaged young people to make ambitious choices and realise their potential.”
Gina Cicerone and Sam Butters, Co-CEO’s Fair Education Alliance
About Yes Futures and Sophie Bartlett, their lead intrapreneur
Yes Futures is a multi-award winning charity, established in 2012, founded and run by experienced, qualified teachers. They specialise in personal development programmes which empower disadvantaged children to make ambitious choices and realise their potential through developing their confidence and key life skills.
Yes Futures have developed My Strengths Toolbox; a comprehensive personal development workbook which helps young people to understand their strengths and how they can use them to be successful. Now more than ever, a focus on wellbeing and personal development is critical to enable our young people to lead happy and successful lives.
Through a series of engaging activities and reflections, My Strengths Toolbox builds students’ confidence, encouraging them to consider their strengths, develop key goal-setting techniques, and apply these to their future plans. The Toolbox can be used independently by students in tutor time or at home, or form part of the PSHE curriculum, supplemented with teacher delivery and group activities.
Sophie Bartlett is the Lead Intrapreneur for the project. Sophie joined Yes Futures in 2017 after graduating from the University of Bath with a degree in Economics. Passionate about giving young people the best start in life, Sophie has been an integral part of Yes Futures growth over the last three years. Having led the development of the Toolbox to date, Sophie is extremely excited about the programme, enabling Yes Futures to reach more young people and embedding innovation within the organisation’s culture.