Stevenage FC Foundation and train firm GTR launch Step Up programme to keep kids engaged in education

Stevenage Football Club’s official charity Stevenage FC Foundation, supported by Thameslink and Great Northern, has launched a 12-week pilot with the town’s secondary schools. If successful, it could transform the lives of disengaged teenagers who are at risk of exclusion.

With a £30,000 grant from Govia Thameslink Railway, ‘Positive Pathways’ Manager Lewis Sykes has delivered his first two-hour session to a small class of 14–15-year-olds at The Nobel School in Mobbsbury Way.

Speaking in Nobel’s school reception afterwards, he said: “It was brilliant! I was blown away by how engaged the youngsters were.”

Lewis Sykes teaches his first cohort of pupils at The Oak at The Nobel School

‘Positive Pathways’ Manager Lewis Sykes

The programme Lewis is leading is called ‘Step Up’. It aims to give 120 young people who are either disengaged with mainstream education or identified as in need of additional support, the direction to refocus their energy and enthusiasm and make positive life choices.

“Teachers are snowed under, so having an outside agency like us coming in makes a huge difference,” said Lewis. “And me simply wearing a tracksuit with the Stevenage FC logo on it and working at the Lamex means the young people really want to listen!”

At each session he’ll focus on a new topic designed to give students real-world skills and career pathways, with expert guest speakers from the council, police and industry partners.

The programme will focus on personal development, setting goals and building confidence. There’s how to look after your money, search for a job and then land it, practising with mock interviews, as well as real-world awareness – addressing key social issues such as gangs, drugs, and knife crime.

Lewis said: “Step Up is the idea of taking initiative and saying to young people, ‘Step up and be a part of your community.’ I say your grades are second to me. Producing good people is the biggest thing and the tools we are able to give you will go a long way to helping you better yourselves.”

Step Up for students ‘on the cusp’

Danny Camp is Director of Alternative Provision at The Nobel School where Lewis held his first Step Up session at its dedicated centre, 'The Oak'.

While some students go to The Oak full-time (see separate story below), others attend only a couple of hours a week. These are students who Danny says are on the cusp of falling into bad behaviour, low mood or becoming disengaged with learning. It is these who Danny and Lewis are working with on the Step Up programme, funded by GTR, to give them a different experience of learning.

Danny said: “There are so many distractions outside school for students that it is easy for them to get lost. We want students making positive life choices, backed by experiences they have had at school. School is a safety net for them.”

Tracy Jarvis, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Govia Thameslink Railway, which runs Southern and Great Northern, said: “We’re so thrilled to hear the programme is under way and already proving successful. It’s so important what Lewis and teachers like Danny are doing. Our children are our future and they deserve our investment.”

ENDS

Case study - Malachi Boateng

Every 12 weeks Nobel School’s Director of Alternative Provision Danny Comp brings a new cohort into his alternative provision centre, The Oak, who are becoming disengaged and “on the cusp” as he puts it. This means he'll be able to put 60-70 pupils through the programme a year.

He has 20 on the list at the moment.

One of them is 14-year-old Malachi Boateng (pictured above). He's a football-mad, fun, bubbly youngster.

Malachi was all ears for Lewis and what he was teaching him.

Malachi said: "He's wearing a Stevenage tracksuit and gets to work in the stadium and with the players - it's crazy, it's really cool! He's taught us that if you're speaking you can't be listening. I want to ask how to become a pro footballer but I know there are other things if that doesn't work out."

ENDS

The Nobel School, giving our kids grounding

The Oak at The Nobel School offers students at Key Stage 4 (14–16-year-olds), who are at risk of permanent exclusion, an opportunity to continue study in their core subjects of English, Maths and Science. On top of that, it funds college spaces in vocational subjects tailored to each student.

Step Up is just one of several targeted interventions by The Oak, designed to support more than 120 students with a multitude of needs.

Director of Alternative Provision Danny Camp (pictured above) said: “With Stevenage being on the fringes of London, we’ve seen an increase of students getting involved in trouble outside of school. We need to give students the opportunities to learn what the working world is like. It's about grounding them and setting them up better prepared for what's about coming post 16.”

Some students attend The Oak full-time, others a couple of hours a week. Danny’s vision, backed by a supportive head teacher Martyn Henson, is to stop students from being permanently excluded.

“There's a proven link between students who were permanently excluded at school going on to join gangs, commit serious offences and ending up in custody. Exclusion is not an outcome that benefits anyone, but schools can only do so much. That's where alternative provision must kick in.

"One student started an accountancy course, giving him a head start in his chosen career. The Oak also arranged work experience for him at an accountancy firm once a week. However, we also offer work experience on construction sites and would endeavour to tailor work experience for the individual student.

“It's about finding successes for these students where it's not worked in schools - schools aren't for everyone. We find something they are successful at and help them progress into the working world. And our main aim is to stop them from being permanently excluded.

“Another student had just 34% attendance from year 7-11 in a mainstream setting. Since starting at The Oak in September, he's had just two days off! The centre attendance is at 95%, while the national average attendance is around 65% for a similar setting.

“In a recent report that has been published for The Oak, a parent is quoted saying ‘I feel like I have got my son back.’ That’s what gets me out of bed in the morning.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

Step Up’s programme aims

✅ Provides students with real-world skills and career pathways

✅ Engages expert guest speakers and industry partners

✅ Encourages personal growth, wellbeing, and resilience

✅ Creates a meaningful link between education, sport, and the wider community

Step Up’s programme, week by week

📌 Personal Development – Goal setting, communication skills, and confidence-building.

Look at it for the life skills and employment but also transferrable so how they can be used in your everyday life as part of your education. Helps people who aren't engaged - short term goal may be to attend every lesson and not be removed.

📌 5 Ways to Wellbeing – Exploring mindfulness, staying active, and connecting with others.

📌 Money Skills – Essential financial education delivered with support from Barclays Bank or Citizens Advice.

📌 Employability Skills – CV writing, job searching, and preparing for interviews.

📌 Careers in GTR & Sport – Insights from industry professionals on career pathways in sports and transport.

📌 Resilience & Support Networks – Learning how to manage challenges with support from Hertfordshire County Council.

📌 Real-World Awareness – Addressing key social issues such as gangs, drugs, and knife crime, supported by Hertfordshire Police.

📌 Sustainable Travel – Understanding eco-friendly transport options, delivered by Hertfordshire County Council.

📌 Interview Skills & ‘Dragons’ Panel’ – Putting employability skills into practice with mock interviews.

📌 Wellbeing Recap & Social Action Art Project – A creative, community-driven initiative with Meana Street Art.

📌 Social Action Art Project Showcase – A collaborative art event at Stevenage Train Station.

📌 Recap, Future Planning & Celebration Event – A final reflection session and celebration at The Lamex Stadium.