STEPS is an Alternative Learning provision for 14–16-year-olds who have fallen out of mainstream education. Often, vulnerable young people with severe struggles in their lives face exclusion from school. This will simply compound their disadvantage. Instead, these struggling teenagers come to our STEPS Learning Centre in Goldsworth Park, Woking, where we provide them with a personalised, caring education that helps them get their lives back on track. The young people we support face a number of different disadvantages but have all ended up in a similar place: without STEPS’ support, they will not get an appropriate education by the time they enter adulthood.

STEPS was a last resort for Olly, whose social worker had been trying to help him turn his life. He hadn’t really attended school for almost a year, instead spending his time socialising with a group of bad influences who were often in trouble with the police for fighting, shoplifting, and stealing bikes and mopeds. In Olly’s own words:

“I was in with the wrong people, and I was heading to prison.”

“If I look back to a year ago, it doesn’t really seem like that’s me. I’m a different person now.” Olly says the personal attention and support from STEPS ’staff is what changed him.

Surrey Care Trust

Awarded 2022-2023