We offer a ‘Smash Life NOCN Qualification’ that young people aged 11-18 can complete alongside our bespoke mentoring sessions! This qualification provides a way for the young person to learn new skills that they will be able to take into further education, training or employment.

Smash Life is creative in its approach to mentoring. We are able to engage and connect through activities and positive diversions, which enable the young people to open up to us so that we can really focus on their voice.

By bringing sport, music, games, walks, and trips to expand on the Mentoring we have achieved better results and the young people actually enjoy and look forward to the sessions. We believe that showing our own vulnerability will inspire those we mentor to share their own.

As an extension to our group work and mentoring services we also provide ‘Mediation’. We have seen many examples of how low-level conflict can quickly escalate into bigger issues for the individuals involved and at a cost to services (NHS/Police/Courts) and sometimes families and the local community. We will attend a meeting in any setting to try and resolve issues between two parties or individuals. Sometimes a neutral mediator can provide a safe platform for individuals to work through their differences without violence being used, whilst at the same time learning how to talk instead of acting through fear or responding to threats of intimidation.

We firmly believe that by providing a space to air grievances that can be listened to and resolved peacefully at ‘ground level’, we can help to tackle some of societies bigger issues – like the rise in knife crime and other criminal / anti social activities. We are all about proactive, early intervention work that can help to create communities inhabited by people who are emotionally intelligent.

We also offer training to groups of professionals working with young people as part of their ongoing professional development. This will not only help to improve practice but also create better outcomes for the young people and families that we all aim to work alongside and empower.

‘Life Story Work’ is a vital and important piece of work for young people in the care system.

Both Smash Life Directors Andy & Matt experienced Life Story Work whilst growing up in the care system and know first-hand how important this work is. We have a dedicated staff member who can support young people who may benefit from Life Story Work.

Some young people in care do not get the opportunity to do this important piece of work due to high waiting lists and eligibility. This work is so important as it can provide young people with a wider knowledge as to who they are, where they have come from and why they are in care. This can help them moving forwards and learning to adapt to their new surroundings.

Our dedicated Life Story Worker can use lots of creativity and work alongside young people, carers and other professionals to create something the young people can keep and look back on in years to come. As well as being a therapeutic intervention, this can also be a fun creative journey for the young person.

“The research has shown us that TLSW strengthens the attachment of a child to a primary care giver, which then supports improvement in peer relationships, education outcomes, reduction in trauma symptoms experienced, reduction of high-risk behaviours, improves mental health and wellbeing and overall, a greater sense of identity” Dr James Lucas.

We are able to use our experience of growing up in the social care system and our many years of working within it, to provide advice and guidance to your organisation on how to create a more young person centred service.

We can observe your practice, or meet with your staff teams to discuss solutions to problems you face and create a safe space for staff to open up and be honest about the challenges they encounter, so that you can identify further training to empower them. We can also advise on things like policies and procedures, safe working practices and ideas based around hearing and capturing the voice of the child throughout the structure of your organisation.

This service can also be provided under the guise of a “mystery customer” or undercover independent examiner, in order to provide your organisation with ‘real life results’ and professional feedback on how you are doing in areas that you want to find out about.

This training is also available to young people who may be within your organisation and require assistance in specific areas or career advice / guidance.