The Current Challenge
Across the UK, after Covid-19 we are witnessing a growing crisis of absenteeism among young people in school, particularly those facing complex neurodiversity and mental health and challenges.
According to the Department of Education, "There has been an increase in levels of persistent and severe absence in recent years: one in five children are currently persistently absent, and in 2022-23, 150,000 children were severely absent (2024)."
This pressing issue is further explored in the report “Not in School: The Mental Health Barriers to School Attendance,” published by the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition, which identifies a troubling correlation between increased absenteeism and deteriorating mental health among young people. Despite the Government’s initiatives, such as attendance mentors and hubs, these measures alone do not get to the root causes of non-attendance.
As a result, these individuals are at risk of being left behind, lacking the support and guidance they need to reintegrate into education or effectively engage with the wider community. The implications of prolonged absenteeism are profound, often leading to a sense of isolation, disconnection from future opportunities, and a negative impact on mental health, physical health and overall wellbeing.
Who am I?
Hello, I’m Katie. For over 15 years, I’ve dedicated my career to working with disenfranchised and marginalised young people. With a background in Community Education, Mental Health, and Youth Work I have always strived to improve life chances through training and personal development for those from vulnerable and underserved backgrounds, but I’ve never been more concerned.
In all my years of working in this field, I’ve never felt more worried about the challenges young people are facing than they are now. The complexity of needs among young people has never been greater: social anxiety, selective mutism, disengagement from school due to severe mental health issues, many face bullying, depression, insomnia, anxiety and isolation, all while the organisations and educational systems designed to support them struggle under the strain.
This is why I’ve founded this social enterprise dedicated to addressing this urgent crisis. My goal is to create a targeted response to these growing challenges and provide the support young people so desperately need
This is where The Brighter Together Project comes in..
The Brighter Together Project
Created in response to the pressing need for innovative support when traditional schooling falls short. The mission is to bridge the gaps that simplistic and outdated resources have left behind, particularly for those who struggle with poor mental health or is neurodivergent. Young people I've worked with in the past have stated that current resources often offer generic advice like “take a bath” or “drink a cup of tea,” and the autism spectrum disorder resources are mostly aimed towards primary school aged pupils, which do little to address the real, nuanced needs of young people, especially those who are neurodiverse or from marginalised backgrounds.
One such young person I have recently worked with has been housebound and she hadn't left the house in 2 years. She was 17 and had been in the house since she was 15 after a recent Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis knocked her confidence and self-esteem. She hasn't return to school after lockdown and her formal education has ground to a halt.
The Brighter Together Project is an ambitious, holistic approach to addressing the challenges faced by these vulnerable young individuals. Over a period of four years, our goal is to implement a multifaceted education programme that will provide the necessary support and mentorship needed to enable these young individuals to overcome their absenteeism and move towards a brighter, more hopeful future.
How Your Support Will Make a Difference
With your support, we all can bring The Brighter Together Project to life, allowing:
- Launch of a Pilot: offering tailored support to a select group of young people facing mental health and neurodiversity challenges. This includes personalised learning plans, face-to-face and online personal development courses, peer ambassador programme creating a support system of people with lived experience, sharing similar circumstances and struggles and essential resources to help them reengage with education. The impact on participants will be significant, as they will gain confidence, develop crucial skills, and receive the support needed to overcome barriers, leading to improved engagement and a more hopeful future.
- Lasting impact: After launching the programme, this funding will enable us to scale and enhance our efforts, leading to lasting benefits. We will expand the programme to reach more young people, refine our approach based on initial feedback, and develop additional resources and support mechanisms. This will create a sustainable model that can continuously address evolving needs, ensuring long-term positive impacts on participants and fostering a more inclusive educational environment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Brighter Together Project represents a possible beacon of hope for young people who have been hindered by absenteeism due to neurodiversity and mental health challenges.
However, with current funding cuts and rising demand, it's a tough road. Your support can help us make a real difference in these young lives and offer them a more inclusive brighter future, laying the foundation for a engaged, empowered generation for many years to come.
Thank you for considering a donation to this cause. Your support will make a meaningful difference.