The third TurnAround Programme ran their graduation ceremony in Leighs Village Hall last week. Attending were the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Chelmsford- Cllr. Mike and Mrs. Julia Harris, Lady Diana Kemp Welch, past High Sherriff Of Essex and Patron of TurnAround, local business people who support the project, mentors,  and proud families and friends.

‘TurnAround was one of the best things I have done in my life’ said R, a girl of 17 who has been through a lot in her short life and had just finished 9 months with the TurnAround project run by The Wilderness Foundation. Moved to tears by the emotions surrounding her graduation ceremony, R, found it hard to read out her speech whilst the fifty guests waited with kind patience to hear her voice.

Project facilitators reminded her of her courage and how she started as a quiet, hard to connect with young person, and now was respected by all involved as someone who carried quiet wisdom, had stepped out of her comfort zone on her six day self supported canoe journey in Scotland, was articulate,  bright and will certainly do well with new found confidence and training at college in tourism.

Her emotion was needed to remind everyone that for most of the young people, standing up to talk and share with strangers and family, the task would have been an impossible for them at the beginning of their journey – and how important this moment was for them now and how far they had come. Others spoke with passion, emotion, pride and dignity about how they had faced their fears and realised how capable they were. There were many tears from families and participants alike.  One participant spoke about how her mother had been such a role model for her – finding ways to deal with her problems and still be a fantastic mother, and how TurnAround had given her the chance to reflect on all the positives in her life.

TurnAround works with young people who are in personal difficulty and vulnerable over a long period of time.  Ranging from a variety of backgrounds in domestic violence, criminal behaviour, drugs and alcohol abuse, problems leaving long term care and for most a history of deep family problems, they all come willingly onto the programme to literally turn their lives around.

The programme works with wild nature activities, wilderness trails and canoe journeys in remote parts of Scotland, one-to-one mentoring and personal development workshops.  Research by the University of Essex evidences the significant changes in the participants in terms of increased confidence and greater self esteem, skills to be resilient to the bumps and bashes life offers, and most importantly, reinforced by skilled mentors, is the connection between action and consequences. The project promotes positive connections to self, others and the natural world.

‘TurnAround promotes a sense of personal control over the choices we make in life..and that the future to a large extent is what we want to make of it,’ said Jo Roberts, CEO of the Wilderness Foundation.  ‘Although no one who comes on the programme has had an easy start in life, they can have a greater say in what kind of parents they eventually want to be, what they do with their life and how they manage themselves and their relationships. We are tough on the programme with a lot of straight talking. Our agenda is to help that young person develop and grow and honesty is the best policy in order to achieve greater awareness and ability to see where things are not working.’

Mentors on TurnAround receive accredited training and are supported by their peers and staff to deliver the vital support they give their young mentee.  All offer their time voluntarily and they bring kindness, patience, guidance and fresh perspectives to the relationship.  In fact, the experience gives them back a deep sense of reward that with time you can really make a difference in another person’s life.

From May, the Foundation launches their fourth year of the TurnAround Project. Based at their green and leafy headquarters at Strutt and Parker (Farms) in Chatham Green, they will also be  launching the same project for young people from Hackney, and a shorter TurnAround lite for younger people aged between 13-15.

‘We have just conducted research into what needs there are out there in the community for young people in Essex, particularly as government money is thin on the ground. Our findings were that a project of this nature is vital, and is needed for the younger ages to catch them before things really get bad. A focus will need to be on young women and we will need to address a growing number of young people who are self harming,’ said Jo. ‘Although these are daunting issues, working with these young people is a joy and with kindness, time, interest and a real desire to support them in a positive life journey, changes really take place.’

Alongside personal growth, TurnAround aims to focus their graduates on employment, or further education, thus giving them greater chances to be self sufficient into the future.  It is a “hand up”, rather than a “handout” approach.

For anyone wishing to come on TurnAround as a participant, to be a mentor, or to support the project financially, please contact The Wilderness Foundation on info@wildernessfoundation.org.uk or telephone 01245 443073.