News - 29th June, 2022

8000 young people receive life-changing coaching

This month, Resurgo enrolled its 8,000th trainee onto their award-winning Spear Programme. This is a significant milestone in the life of its flagship initiative, which supports 16–24-year-olds facing barriers to employment with the skills and mindset they need to both find work, and thrive once they are there.

The Spear Programme launched in 2004, with a view to release the untapped potential of unemployed young people in London. At that point, just 5 trainees attended a sole Spear Centre, based in Hammersmith. 18 years later, the Spear Programme now operates from 12 locations across 6 cities in the UK.

This advance and growth is thanks to a dedicated team of highly experienced coaches, and the contributions of many hundreds of supporters, businesses and churches.

With the hard work and support of this community, Spear Hammersmith and Fulham has now surpassed its 100th programme. Longstanding centres including those in Camden and Clapham Junction have celebrated 50 programmes. Spear Bournemouth will this year embark on its 10th programme, despite the challenge of launching during a pandemic, and the most recent city to launch Spear, Preston, is well into its third programme.

Resurgo’s Executive Director of Coaching, Iona Ledwidge, said, “This is a really exciting milestone for Resurgo and we are so proud of the phenomenally hard work that it represents. We are grateful to all those who have made it possible and we are inspired by each one of the 8,000 young people who have shown such courage and determination to change the direction of their lives. We are excited to support the next 8,000, and beyond!”

Resurgo is committed to the goal of having a sustained presence in every region in the UK, in order to reach thousands more unemployed young people who most need support. Resurgo’s belief is that behind the milestone figures, each young person has huge potential, and deserves to realise that for themselves – like Louis*, who recently completed Spear in Preston. He said, “Before Spear, I just didn’t have any hope. But now I’m feeling optimistic about the future. I’d like to say a special thank you to [my coaches] who have taught me so much. Spear has been one of the greatest experiences of my life… I honestly wish I could recommend it to anyone.”

Find out more about the Spear Programme here, or refer a young person who needs our support.

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