For the past 4 years LDM has been collaborating with katalyst4change to learn how to become a trauma informed organisation and utilise trauma informed sports coaching; as part of this we have created the Beyond the Ball Programme - a new way of supporting youths at risk of school exclusion or crime by combining trauma informed knowledge and basketball.
Because not everyone learns through talking, and every child deserves the support they need in the way that is right for them.
If your school or organisation would like to learn about how we can work together on this please see below and contact kathryn.hodgson@letsdomore.org.uk
We know, amongst many other things, that without the right support:
· Childhood trauma increases the risk of a youth being excluded from school &/ or becoming involved is crime, (up to 90% of young people who have offended have experienced at least one Adverse Childhood Experience*)
· & that trauma can disrupt a youths developing brain, making it harder for them to manage their emotions and make better choices.
This is why we have created a new way of learning:
Sport has already been identified as both a protective factor and a way that can help youths recover from trauma.
We enhanced this by using evidence based trauma informed knowledge to design the program by:
· building on a foundation of prioritising psychological safety, a sense of belonging and fun,
· having games and drills that are adapted to specifically support a brain that is affected by trauma,
· support youths to practise new ways of responding to difficult situations, in fact we welcome the behaviours others judge as we see it as an opportunity for them to learn new ways to respond while being supported as they practise.
· Using coaches who have both lived experience and practical experience of working in this way with youths at risk, and are trained in trauma informed sports coaching.
The how:
The programme runs once a week for 10 weeks for youths age 11-15yo, and can be run either at your school or you can refer to the programme run at Mandela Community Centre. (we are also happy to discuss other options that may work better for you)
At the end of the program the youths can join any of our regular sessions to continue being supported for as long as they want, and are able to either join a team, be part of our leadership program or even discover career opportunities.
To discuss further, or plan a programme, please contact kathryn.hodgson@letsdomore.org.uk
Our youths deserve the right support to thrive and this is a great place to start for those who need a different approach.
* Evidence base
Most research uses the Adverse Childhood Experience Study statistics as it is easy to measure, however it also excludes a significant amount of trauma outside the household, including discrimination, poverty, the impact of COVID, historical and collective trauma and individual incidents (bombings, accidents, witnessing trauma etc) which have also been found to increase risk of negative outcomes in life if unresolved, and compound the impact of ACE’s.
Here at LDM we recognise all forms of trauma and work to remove the inequalities in place for youths affected by trauma.
Having said that here is some of the relevant ACE research (there is a huge amount, happy to share more)
Sport as a protective factor Responding to Adverse Childhood Experiences: An evidence review of interventions to prevent and address adversity across the life course - World Health Organization Collaborating Centre On Investment for Health and Well-being
Link of ACE’s and youth offending (PDF) The prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) in the lives of juvenile offenders
Link of ACE’s and violence Adverse and positive childhood experiences, and their association with children’s involvement in violence | Youth Endowment Fund
Link of ACE’s and school exclusion and crime ace exclusions crime.pdf
Link of school exclusion and crime No safe space: Impact of cumulative disadvantage of adversity in the home and exclusion from school on victimisation and offending behaviour within a justice-involved youth sample - ScienceDirect
Link of SEND and exclusions Full article: “It’s just misunderstood kids”. school exclusion, SEND and the reproduction of inequality
Link between ACEs and physical activity engagement Recent Studies Concerning Adverse Childhood Experiences and Physical Activity in Adolescents - ScienceDirect
A new report into the importance and benefits of PE in schools 20260520+-+More+Play,+Better+Learning+-+Summary+Report.pdf
