Expanding Horizons
As part of our wider Coaching Programme, the Expanding Horizons Programme is designed to build trust, deepen relationships, and open up new opportunities for growth, both personal and academic, for the young people we support.
Through carefully planned activities, trips, and enrichment experiences, our Coaches strengthen connections with young people and their families, fostering confidence, resilience, and a wider sense of possibility and ambition. Along the way, pupils develop vital life skills including teamwork, independence, and critical thinking, while also boosting their physical and mental wellbeing.
These experiences directly support our broader aims at ReconnectEd:
Improved self-regulation and wellbeing among pupils
Reduced exclusions and increased school attendance
Stronger engagement between families and schools
A ripple effect of positivity across home and school communities
What we’ve delivered so far
Crafts Re-Engagement Project
Thanks to The Radcliffe Trust funding, we ran a 3-month programme of arts and crafts workshops, led by an Artist in Residence and supported by our Coaches. Sixteen young people took part in hands-on sessions where they explored techniques such as fabric painting, block printing, hand embroidery, and weaving.
As their confidence grew week by week, students began to discover new abilities and creative strengths, feeling more comfortable, engaged, and proud of their achievements.
“Each week was different, and the students were gently guided through new techniques. It was amazing to see them learning new skills and expressing themselves. We feel so lucky to have had this opportunity.”
— ReconnectEd Coach
“To begin with, some said they couldn’t draw or sew, but every single one gave it a go. They became more confident, more focused, and really proud of what they created. It’s been brilliant.”
— Artist in Residence
Forest School Leader Training
Investing in our team
Thanks to The Jesuit Fund for Social Justice, we were able to support one of our Coaches to complete accredited training to become a Level 3 Forest School Leader. This equips him to lead sessions that support play, learning, and holistic development in outdoor settings.
Not only does this enrich our programme offering, it also supports the professional growth of our staff and reduces the need to bring in external facilitators in the future.
Contributed to a new Forest School in Sheffield
Investing in the future
Thanks to funding from the East Midlands Railway Community Fund, ReconnectEd was able to contribute towards the development of a new Forest School site at Belong, Learn, Transform, where our Sheffield Coaches are based. This has enabled the young people we support to benefit from a dedicated outdoor learning environment.
The funding helped prepare and equip the site so that students can now take part in regular Forest School sessions led by one of our trained ReconnectEd Coaches. These sessions provide opportunities for hands-on learning in nature, helping young people build confidence, resilience, teamwork and emotional wellbeing.
For many of the pupils we work with, traditional classroom environments can be challenging. Outdoor learning offers an alternative setting where young people can engage with learning in a different way, develop practical skills and take safe risks while building independence and self-belief.
The Forest School represents a long-term investment in the school’s provision and will continue to support multiple cohorts of young people from across Sheffield in the years to come.
Beyond the 4 Walls Transition Programme
In partnership with Beyond the 4 Walls
We partnered with Beyond the 4 Walls to deliver a 10-week outdoor transition programme for Year 6 pupils at Mansel School, preparing them for their move to Yewlands Academy.
Each week brought new adventures including bike riding, forest skills, hikes in the Peak District, and quiet moments in hammocks. Pupils were joined by Year 7 staff from Yewlands Academy, helping to build relationships and smooth the path to secondary school.
For many, the programme was full of “firsts”—from spotting wildlife to riding a bike down a hill for the first time. The personal growth was remarkable, with some pupils described as “completely different” by the end of the journey.
Looking ahead
We continue to fundraise to support future phases of the Expanding Horizons Programme, creating innovative projects that respond directly to the needs of the young people we work with.
If you’re interested in supporting or learning more about Expanding Horizons, we’d love to hear from you.
