SHAPE-UK is a community and family-oriented charity which provides for the needs of a diverse UK population. Operating since 2006 we support individuals and families in different challenging circumstances. We welcome people of all abilities and backgrounds to participate in sport, education and wellbeing activities. For those with a unique talent or skill we are also a window of opportunity to help individuals enter higher education or training (according to ability) including exploiting our networks to provide access to opportunities in professional sport, higher education institutes and careers in the Public Services.

In combination with the above pathways we also use STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine) to provide holistic and impactful support with positive and long-lasting outcomes.  We work in partnership with the several agencies such as local councils, schools and faith and faith & community centres to provide culturally appropriate support, resources and services especially the hardest-to-reach, those in hardship, the marginalized and NEETs, with short-term assistance or long-term (education, skills, or career based) solutions SHAPE-UK’s connections (through Alumni) with local and other Russell Group universities and corporates offers improved access to opportunities for young people to help them aspire high, improve life skills, and to realise their potential enabling them to progress into a vocation or more a advanced mode of study.

We strive to bring equity and recognition for BAMER communities. SHAPE-UK’s cognition-based intervention programmes are delivered across the UK in community settings and schools. Our community engagement and intervention programmes engender good citizenship values and promote collective social responsibility.

 

SHAPE (Sport, Health & Academia Projects Endeavour)

 

By co-delivering outreach activities with the Armed Forces and the Cadets organisations we have been able to engage different communities within society, thus engendering stronger citizenship values. We employ forces veterans who are a great inspiration and excellent exemplars of the social mobility mechanism. Through SMART working methods we provide ability-appropriate career guidance to young people and deliver much-needed life skills training, character and team-building, outdoor/adventure training and bespoke classroom support. Such experiences and mental challenges provide unique life skills that advance young people’s communication, critical thinking and functional skills, ultimately enabling participants to feel more empowered, become more self-confident and resilient to life’s challenges.

In the past we have delivered a 12-month bespoke semi-structured outdoor adventure and classroom-based modular personal development programme. The programme raises aspirations supporting young people with life skills, education, and career development mentoring (Careers support, CV workshops, and college/university advice/application support). Combined with outdoor sports, team building, and adventure training this not only helps candidates to consider better career options i.e. apply for college or university, but for skills qualifications to develop and access the jobs market.  This course enables participants to focus better on their career pathway through a positive mind, stronger sense of identity and social responsibility.  Ultimately it increases self-confidence and improves character and resilience in young people, helping them make independent decisions to stay out of trouble, overcome challenges, and become more independent. This holistic approach improve the individual’s and their family’s circumstances, enhance participants’ future prospects prepares them for a better start in life and prepares them towards a responsible and prosperous adulthood ready for the ‘World of Work.’