Improving Life Chances
The Improving Life Chances programme uses sport and physical activity to empower young people throughout Oxford City to improve their physical, personal, and social development.
Improving Life Chances is primarily aimed at young people aged 11 – 17 who are excluded or not attending school, have offended in the last 12 months, or are not in education, employment or training. It embraces the influences from sport, youth work and criminal justice sectors and is defined by a purposeful intention to change, rather than simply manage, young people’s behaviour and lives.
The programme involves a combination of mentoring, physical activity, hard-hitting workshops, volunteering opportunities and accredited qualifications. We work with young people who are facing challenges in their lives and help them to engage with physical activity, education, and their local communities. The desired outcomes for young people engaging with chances are:
- Increase attendance.
- Achieve a qualification.
- Zero offending whilst involved in the programme.
- Completion of a three-month volunteering or 30 hour work placement.
The initiative will take place in the wards of Blackbird Leys, Barton, Wood Farm, Littlemore and Rose Hill. We encourage all schools, organisations, and agencies in Oxford City to discuss this opportunity with young people that would benefit from the programme, and to refer to us any young person who is interested.
The Improving Life Chances partnership is OY, Oxford City Council & Active Oxfordshire (use logos in partners section)
Life Chances participants can access our bespoke Life Chances Oxford Young Leaders Programme amongst many other programmes of support with a range of partners.
Key delivery partners include:
The young leaders programme will take place in a variety of locations across Oxford City and will run for 10 – 13 weeks depending on the needs of the group. Oxford Young Leaders offers a Level 2 Award in Leadership and Team skills and outdoor activities that are tailored to the specific needs of the group. Due to the flexibility of the programme and the unique combination of experiential learning and accessible assessment tools, young people of all abilities and backgrounds can achieve this qualification.
The course takes place in a gym in Oxford city centre. It is taught over 6 weeks, the course is followed by 4 weeks of work experience totalling 30 hours. Young people will achieve a Level 1 award in Supporting Fitness and Activity and will develop an understanding of the principles of exercise & fitness, healthy eating.
This course will take place in various locations across Oxford City. It will to use the power of football and the Oxford United badge to engage and inspire young people who may not be engaging with other people in their school-based life and to use football as a motivator in acquiring personal skills to improve their lives, through sports and coaching-related activity and to inspire them to continue in their education. This course will run over 10 weeks and the young people will receive coaching, input and support to help them to create, organise and take ownership of a sports-related event for primary school.
On completion of the course there will be a celebration for all participants with a presentation of certificates of achievement on the pitch in front of the fans at an Oxford United FC home match.
If you have any questions about the Life Chances programme, please contact us on referrals@oxfordshireyouth.org
Building Resilience
A programme delivered in schools, for young people who are at risk of exclusion.
Transition through Leadership
Supporting the transition from Primary to Secondary School.
Youth Programmes
In 2015, Oxfordshire Youth worked with the Institute of Leadership and Management to transform their well-recognised adult leadership programme into a programme designed for young people aged 14+.
