“I’ve learnt that if I want to be something, I can be something.”
For many young people, believing in their own potential can be one of the biggest challenges they face.
As part of our More Than A Backpack campaign, this September, we’re sharing Lacee’s story to highlight the difference that support, opportunity and encouragement can make in a young person’s life.
Jane, our Regional Manager for North Wales, says that ” We are so proud of everything our Blue Skies students have achieved in the last year and are looking forward to the start of a new year, building on these vital skills and continuing to help our young people feel empowered to grow, take on new challenges and recognise that no opportunity is out of their reach, particularly those starting with the Blue Skies programme for the first time.”
Through JET’s flagship Blue Skies programme, we provide support to young people who may be struggling to engage with school, have lost confidence in themselves, or need guidance on seeing what their future could hold. JET specifically uses Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) environments, workplaces and programmes to develop the five cornerstones; aspiration, confidence, motivation, resilience, and goal setting – which aligns with the learning-outcomes of the international CASEL framework of Social and Emotional Learning. With over 100 hours of face-to-face support across the three-year programme, the core focus is on improving those Social and Emotional Learning skills and equipping the young people we support with skills for life.
“If it wasn’t for JET, I wouldn’t be as confident to try something new.”
For Lacee, JET helped unlock a new way of thinking about herself and her future.
Through Blue Skies, Lacee was encouraged to challenge herself, develop new skills, and discover strengths she hadn’t necessarily recognised before. JET gave Lacee the opportunity to step outside her comfort zone and try new experiences, with the confidence to do so.
“It’s opened up my mind as to what I can be, and what I can do.”
As part of Lacee’s time in the Blue Skies programme, some of her workplace visits included time at Royal Air Force Valley, allowing her to see a wide variety of jobs and careers, and has found a new possible future for herself as a Personal Trainer in the RAF, something that she hadn’t considered previously.
“I’ve learnt that If I put my mind to it, I can do pretty much anything.”
For so many Blue Skies students across the UK, just like Lacee, JET can show them pathways they didn’t know were available to them, whilst building up vital life skills and preparing them for employability.
Not only do we work with schools across the UK with our Blue Skies programme, but we also open up our resources to wider school groups as part of our Inspirational Outreach sessions, teaming up with our delivery partners and volunteers to provide inspiring sessions such as career workshops, STEM engagement days and bringing inspirational speakers into schools.
To continue doing what JET does best, we rely on our wide network of corporate partners, foundations, patrons and supporters to raise funds for our programmes, provide delivery sessions, donate their time by volunteering and becoming regular givers – and you can get involved too.
This September we’re encouraging those who can, to donate the price of a coffee each month, or each week if you’re able to. Those regular donations soon add up to providing uniform for a student, an hour of Blue Skies, and so much more.
Become a regular giver here: Donate to Support Vital STEM Youth Programmes Today