Prime Highlights:
- Durham Area Youth’s Ignite programme has supported over 200 students, helping them build confidence, manage stress, and improve school attendance.
- The initiative strengthens relationships between students, school staff, and the wider community, creating a positive environment for learning.
Key Facts:
- The Ignite programme runs drop-in sessions that provide supportive activities and coping strategies for students facing challenges.
- Participation in the programme requires regular school attendance, which helps students develop a consistent routine and improve engagement.
Background:
Hundreds of children facing challenges at school have received support through a County Durham charity initiative.
Durham Area Youth launched the Ignite programme in collaboration with Belmont Community School to help young people who struggle with attendance, stress, and anxiety. Now in its fourth year, the programme has helped more than 200 students.
It runs drop-in sessions where students can take part in activities that build confidence, cope with school challenges, and handle stress. The sessions also encourage regular attendance, helping students develop a routine and feel more settled at school.
Emily Burns, chief executive of Durham Area Youth, said students must attend school to take part. “Their attendance improves, and then they keep coming because the sessions are there,” she explained, showing how the programme helps in the long term.
Students involved in Ignite have praised the programme for its welcoming and engaging environment. One student said the sessions are “fun activities” that help them feel calm, while another said they “show me how to turn bad days into good days.”
Mark Nesbitt, deputy headteacher of Belmont Community School, also praised the positive impact of the programme. He said: “It helps youngsters with anything they are concerned about around school, supports them with other problems, and helps form more trusting relationships with professionals. It also builds a bond between the school and the wider community.”
The Ignite programme provides a safe space where young people can connect with staff, express their concerns, and develop essential life skills. By focusing on personal growth and resilience, the initiative helps students flourish both inside and outside mainstream education.
With Durham Area Youth’s continued commitment, the initiative demonstrates how community-based support can improve student wellbeing, enhance school engagement, and strengthen the relationship between schools and local communities.
As the programme continues to grow, it offers a model for combining educational support with personal development, proving that tailored interventions can make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people facing difficulties.
