The problem Our solution

The problem
50+ HOURS PER MONTH SPENT ONLINE BY YOUNG PEOPLE
POOREST FAMILIES HALF AS LIKELY TO FLOURISH AS WEALTHIEST
4.9% OF UNIVERSITY APPLICANTS FROM ROUTINE OCCUPATIONS
1 MILLION+ UNEMPLOYED YOUNG PEOPLE
130,000+ UNPAID INTERNSHIPS
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UK YOUTH ARE NOT FULFILLING THEIR POTENTIAL
Our solution
DEVELOP AN INNOVATIVE ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAMME
TEACH FLOURISHING COMPETENCIES EXPLICITLY
PROVIDE PERSONALISED HIGHER ED AND CAREER SUPPORT
CONNECT YOUNG PEOPLE TO PROFESSIONALS + ORGANISATIONS
PROVIDE FUNDED WORK PLACEMENTS + EXPERIENCE
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AN EXCITING WAY TO SUPPORT FLOURISHING
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We like to think of ourselves
as an aspirations agency. We
launched Star Track in September 2011. It is a highlypersonalised, year-long
incubator programme to
shape, support and accelerate
the emerging talent in young
people aged 16–24 from less
privileged backgrounds. It’s
Socratic, not didactic.
Our focus is on preparing young
people who do not have the
connections or the resources
themselves to map and launch a
career that they will love. We
also help them develop the
professional competencies
they’ll need to succeed in their
work, as well as the flourishing
competencies they’ll need for a
fulfilling and happy life.
Star Track is delivered for the
most part online, as well as a
number of face-to-face meetings
during the year. It has been
designed so that it can stand
alongside whatever else the
young people are doing. Rather
than pinching time from school
or college work, we encourage
our young people to optimise the
time they spend on the internet.
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The 13 young people are not
programme’s participants, they
are its co-creators: as they take
from it, they also shape it. And
they also share their learning
with other young people by
delivering workshops in
schools and at events. This not
only cements their own understanding, but gives them great
professional experience.
We like to help people flourish・Charity No. 1144020・Company No. 07620518・www.sparkandmettle.org.uk・[email protected]
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THIS IS HOW THIS ALL WORKS
1MEET ARFAH. SHE WANTS TO MAKE DOCUMENTARIES. SHE PROVED SHE ‘S GOT SPARK AND METTLE AND IS ELIGIBLE
FOR OUR PROGRAMME. 2THAT’S OUR PROGRAMME: STAR TRACK. WE HELP YOUNG PEOPLE FROM LESS PRIVILEGED
BACKGROUNDS FLOURISH WHILE THEY MAP AND LAUNCH THEIR OPTIMAL CAREER. 3THIS IS EUGENIE. SHE IS ARFAH’S
AGENT. HER JOB IS TO DO EVERYTHING SHE CAN TO SET ARFAH UP FOR SUCCESS. 4THEY MEET ONLINE ONCE A WEEK
FOR A 45 MIN VIDEO CHAT. IN A SMALL GROUP THEY TALK ABOUT EVERTHING FROM RESILIENCE TO INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES. 5 EUGENIE AND ARFAH KEEP IN TOUCH EACH WEEK VIA TWITTER. AND FACEBOOK. AND EMAIL. 6AND TEXT S.
THEY ALSO MEET UP AT THE END OF EVERY TERM, ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE. WE CALL THESE EVENTS “LUNCH
PARLAYS.” 7THIS IS CHERRY. THESE DAYS SHE’S PRETTY FAMOUS. SHE MAKES
DOCUMENTARIES FOR BBC3. EUGENIE PUT ARFAH IN TOUCH WITH HER TO GIVE
SOME REALDEAL EXPERT ADVICE. 8THIS IS ARFAH’S BLOG. SHE USES IT TO
REFLECT ON HER OWN JOURNEY THROUGH THE PROGRAMME. 9THIS IS THE BBC.
ARFAH WILL TAKE A WORK PLACEMENT HERE—
AND SPARK+METTLE MAKES SURE IT’S PAID.