Head Held High was set up in 2013. We run highly motivational and interactive workshops and programmes to help young people at risk of exclusion and/or affiliation with knife crime, and reveal the courage to take new action for new results. Our style of delivery is highly interactive so that the individuals feel the change on the inside in order to make the changes on the outside.
The Aim of our Workshops
We lead motivational and engaging workshops for young people up to the age of 25 who are at risk of exclusion, lacking in direction or affiliated with youth violence. Our aim is prevention and, through our nurturing and interactive intervention, we focus on breaking through negative lifestyle patterns, overcoming barriers, unlocking talent and taking new action for new results. The work is highly interactive so that our young people feel the change from day one.
The ‘Best You’ programme
One of our most powerful programmes is ‘The Best You’ run in partnership with anti knife crime charity The Ben Kinsella Trust. It is a 6 week course broken down into 6 x 1.5 hour workshops a week led by two motivational coaches. We work with groups of up to 10 young people at risk of exclusion, experiencing multiple detentions and/or lacking in motivation. Over the programme we focus on areas which include transforming aggressive communication, implementing assertive behaviour, breaking through negative lifestyle patterns, discovering passions/vocational goals and generally becoming proactive in a positive way. In the 5th week we take the group to experience The Ben Kinsella Tour1 who are now based in 3 locations: Islington, Barking and Nottingham. It is a wake-up call to many ,and a reminder of how precious our lives are. The group will learn about the impact of knife crime on family, friends as well as the victim, the power of our choices and consequences, joint enterprise, prison life and the general message of educating young people away from violence.
After working in schools, pupil referral units and youth offending teams for the last 15 years, too many young people are resorting to violence as a first option. If we can prevent them going down a destructive path and put a mirror up to their faces and ask the question "Can I do and feel better and what action do I need to take to make that happen?" then we will do. Please check out www.headheldhigh.org.uk
Our ‘Stand up for yourself programme offers confidence through stand up comedy
Another programme which helps young people at risk reveal their true voice, transform aggression and build confidence and self worth is ‘Stand up for yourself’. This is our ‘confidence through stand up’ comedy course which runs over 6 weeks broken down into 1 x 2 hour workshops a week. The programme includes watching and feeding back on professional stand up comedians, learning the "rule of 3" in comedy, digging deep to find the funny in life, transforming anger into comedy, receiving one to one coaching from a professional comedian and performing a live stand up comedy set. This enables young individuals to reveal their courage, build on self-esteem and motivation and have a laugh along the way! Many students have completed the course and due to the courage it took to perform live, they have gone on to make other courageous decisions in their personal and professional lives.
On completion of all of our programmes, young people will receive a certificate of achievement and character reference which helps with future employment opportunities.
Poverty, social, economic circumstances, repressed anger, anti-social behaviour and low self-worth are common challenges that lead to poor education, unstable relationships, and unemployment.
Passion and Outreach
I am devastated by the number of young people who we are losing to knife crime in this country and is committed to doing everything possible to help prevent young people turning to the streets.
Head Held High's coaches are passionate about the future of our young people and during our programmes we share personal experiences and challenges, show footage of inspiring life stories and anything that will break down the often put up wall of "Us v them". We have a crisis on our hands where there are too many young people being dominated by bravado and aggression, and yet when you are able to give them some extra attention, the truth comes out. We will take proactive action alongside our delegates so they feel supported and more hopeful. Sometimes we just need a helping hand.
Funding Needs and Action
This has been a critical year for Head Held High due to a lack of funding and yet there is a massive need for this work in schools/PRU's, YOT teams and more. We just had our annual fundraiser at The Comedy Store where we raised just under 5k for which we are extremely grateful, do check out a snippet:
Partnerships
Head Held High has worked with The Department for Work and Pensions, Secondary schools, youth offending teams, Mind, New Horizon homeless youth centre, Drive Forward Foundation (Care leavers), Comic Relief and more. We are proud to have helped over 1000 young people overcome obstacles and transform their lives for the better. We aim to continue to help many more in their advancement both personally and professionally.
If you are interested in knowing more or getting in touch please do at: tash@headheldhigh.org.uk or
www.headheldhigh.org.uk and follow us on Insta@headheldhighldn.
Thank you and always keep your head held high!
Tash Alexander
Founder and Director, Head Held High
www.headheldhigh.org.uk
Further Reading:
[1] For further information about programmes and these tours see https://benkinsella.org.uk/workshop-faqs/
