With the increase in social media, young people are more susceptible to being targeted and exploited by gangs to get involved in county lines. Unseen reported that “at least 27,000 children are believed to be trapped in county lines across the UK”. It’s important that we highlight this issue as it may be closer to home than you think.
This is true for Jamie, one of our students at Progress Schools, who found himself in trouble with the police and was suspected of having county lines involvement. These issues added to Jamie’s existing challenges that led to him being suspended from mainstream schooling. During school, Jamie would find it difficult to communicate with others and became easily overwhelmed when given instructions. These challenges he was facing caused him to disengage from his education.
This led to Jamie continuing his education at Progress Schools. Whilst with us, Jamie has made significant improvements attributed to his new environment. His teacher said,
“Jamie has made great progress and has become more confident within himself and his learning abilities.”
Jamie has been able to refocus on his learning by engaging in lessons with a 2:1 staff ratio. By having a classroom to himself, he is able to better focus on the tasks at hand without distractions or the pressure of keeping up with his peers. This supports Jamie from feeling overwhelmed and has helped him to view learning in a more positive way.
When Jamie joined Progress Schools, he was given the support of his own pastoral mentor. Despite his struggles with communicating, he has built a good relationship with his mentor, as well as his head of school. CSPC advise talking is a great way to gain a better understanding of a young person’s situation, especially if you believe they are involved in county lines. By taking the time to build a mutual trust with one another, Jamie now feels comfortable communicating when he is struggling. It has also made space for him to discuss any other issues that concern him. His Pastoral Mentor, Charlotte, says,
“When Jamie has concerns or needs support, he will approach staff and discuss how he is feeling and how we can help. The progression that he has made during his time at Progress School has been amazing and we are very proud of him.”
Through positive relationship building, Jamie has not only found a support system that keeps him safe but has also been empowered to return to learning. This positive change is further strengthened by external groups like the youth offending service and social care, who’ve provided additional support for his educational reengagement. Currently, Jamie is working with Strengthening Families to solidify these gains.
During his time at Progress Schools, our staff observed Jamie’s behaviour and have sent in an autism spectrum disorder referral for him. This will allow the staff to better support his individual needs.
Jamie is currently sitting his GCSEs and has expressed an interest in bricklaying following completion of his education. To help him decide his next steps, he is arranged to meet with a career’s advisor from our sister company, Progress Careers. Following this, the staff will take Jamie to look around colleges to make him feel comfortable with his options for the future.
We are incredibly proud of Jamie’s progress as he continues to overcome challenges and focus on his education. His story highlights the dangers of exploitation and the importance of support systems. We’re happy Jamie is on the right track, and we admire his resilience. We look forward to seeing all he accomplishes in the future.
(For confidentiality, the student’s name has been changed)
