Evolve programme supporting girls heading to secondary school
A programme aimed at successfully transitioning young girls from primary to secondary school in Nottingham is leading to sustained improvements in attendance, behaviour, wellbeing and engagement.
The Mentoring for Girls programme, delivered by Evolve and funded through the Violence Reduction Partnership, supports girls at Djanogly Strelley Academy who have been identified as needing additional help during a key time in their lives.
Through tailored activities, balancing the sport of boxing with mentoring and structured support, participants have shown sustained improvements in school attendance, behaviour and academic attainment.
Significant improvements have also been seen in confidence and wellbeing, with participants demonstrating increased self-esteem and resilience, and all completing the nationally recognised Signs of Safety tool, with measurable improvements recorded in their individual scores.
The programme has also contributed to a reduction in participants’ involvement with statutory services, including police and social care.
The work was made possible through funding from the Violence Reduction Partnership’s Sports Plus grants, which support community-led initiatives that tackle the root causes of violence through early intervention and prevention.
The VRP is a Home Office-funded initiative dedicated to reducing serious violence across Nottinghamshire by taking a public health approach. It brings together police, local authorities and community organisations to deliver long-term, sustainable solutions that support young people and communities.
Gary Godden, Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chair of the VRP, said: “Preventing serious violence starts with supporting young people early and addressing the factors that put them at risk.
“Projects like the one Evolve are delivering demonstrates the value of community-led interventions that build confidence, improve engagement in education and reduce reliance on statutory services.
“We know the transition between primary and secondary school can be a difficult for some people, and that is why the work taking place in Strelley is so important to the community in enabling them to navigate those challenges.”
Girls taking part in the programme have consistently engaged in positive activities both within and beyond the project, including participation in the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Many have also maintained access to additional services they were referred to, ensuring continued support beyond the life of the programme.
Gemma Fewkes, Head of Youth and Community Activator Coach at Evolve, said: We’ve got a lot of interaction with boys in the area, but it has been difficult to get girls involved prior to getting the trust and confidence in place.
“We’ve worked on that and can now put sessions on that they are interested in, and it lets them know that this is a safe space.
“We work on building confidence, and try to interact with them in ways that they are most comfortable with.
“The early intervention aspect of it helps with the transition from primary to secondary school which as we know is a really important time for them.”