News

Across 19 completed sessions, young people took positive steps in confidence, communication, education and engagement. Here is what meaningful progress looked like at TWMAD this week.

TWMAD Celebrates Youth Music Fund Award for Future Beat Makers Project Together We Make A Difference is thrilled to announce that we have been granted funding from the Youth Music Fund to launch our innovative Future Beat Makers project. This exciting new initiative aims to provide children and young people with access to Urban Park our state-of-the-art digital sound and music studio offering them opportunities to explore and develop their talents in music production and media creation. The Future Beat Makers project is designed to create memorable experiences for children who face barriers to learning. Whether they are beginners or have [...]

Referral information Jack is a charismatic and talented young person with a passion for DJing and music. Raised by his mother alongside many siblings and without a relationship with his father, who is in prison. Jack faced significant challenges from an early age as he became deeply embroiled in gang culture and risky behaviours, including drug dealing and knife carrying. Chaos  The impact of these experiences was significant and led to traumatic events such as the loss of a close friend to gang violence and direct threats to Jack’s own life being made. His safety and wellbeing were at significant risk, which [...]

At TWMAD, we believe every young person has the potential to thrive, even when life presents significant challenges. Seb, a Year 8 student and a Looked-After Child (LAC), exemplifies this belief. Seb is a likeable and generally well-supported young person who often experiences success in school. However, like many young people navigating complex circumstances, Seb struggles to manage setbacks when they arise. His responses can include disruptive behaviour and an inability to accept consequences, leading to an increasing number of exclusions. Seb tends to escalate situations quickly, often displaying patterns of avoidance and self-sabotage, particularly in tasks where he fears failure, [...]

At TWMAD, our first mentoring programme, Ignite Your Future, marked the beginning of our journey to inspire the next generation. Launched in late 2017, we delivered this programme intensively into several schools in partnership with both Staffordshire & Keele Universities Higher Horizons+ departments. The mission was simple: to connect children with their strengths, create a space to focus on their futures, and help them identify a career path that would enable them to live each day in FLOW—doing what they love and thriving. Recently, I had a chance encounter that reminded me of why we do what we do. A young [...]

Kerry initially faced challenges engaging with services, driven by a strong desire to avoid feeling "different." She also became entangled in negative friendships that reinforced her sense of isolation. With a possible undiagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Kerry often felt misunderstood, which heightened her struggles. These difficulties left both her mum and her school deeply concerned about her mental health and how these challenges might impact her education and overall well-being. Our mentoring sessions were intentionally scheduled with flexibility, taking place outside school hours to help Kerry avoid feeling different or singled out. We focused on creating a supportive and inclusive [...]

At TWMAD, we work with young people facing significant challenges, helping them make safer, healthier choices through 1:1 mentoring support. Mo is one such young person. Vulnerable and at risk, he has been involved in county lines, associated with concerning friendships, and witnessed violence that no young person should experience. Despite these challenges, our aim is to guide him toward positive change. During a recent session, Mo disclosed something that surprised even our experienced mentor: he had access to a knife. Mo explained that he felt he needed it for protection, but he was also deeply conflicted about carrying it. He [...]

At TWMAD, we are excited to announce our sponsorship of the Milton Mavericks U9s for the upcoming season! This partnership is about more than just sports kits; it's about empowering young people to build confidence, teamwork, and resilience—both on and off the field. When the kids first saw their new kits, their smiles and excitement were absolutely priceless. It's a moment that reminds us of the power of sport to unite and inspire. We are proud to play a part in supporting these young athletes as they enter their new league and embark on a season of growth and achievement. This [...]

In this edition, we’re sharing the impactful journey of a young person who, through our mentoring, is learning to navigate and overcome deep feelings of neglect and abandonment. Like all of us, she needs to feel loved and valued, but her journey has led her to express these needs in ways that have often been harmful to herself. Our mentors are working closely with her, helping her find healthier ways to feel connected and valued. Yasmin came to our program grappling with feelings of neglect and abandonment by her parents. These deep-seated feelings manifested in self-harm, truancy, negative friendships, and risky [...]