Starting secondary school can be a big step, and for many young people it brings new routines, new friendships and new challenges. Through KEY+ Transitions, the Soul Sisters group were given the opportunity to build their confidence, develop new skills and support one another as they settled into Year 7.

Throughout KEY+, they discovered that stepping outside their comfort zones could be both rewarding and fun.

For their project, the group took on the challenge of planning a day out from start to finish. Working together, they managed a budget, explored different options, presented their ideas and made decisions as a team before enjoying a day that included an escape room, McDonald’s, Tynemouth Aquarium and the beach.

Having their idea chosen gave the group a real sense of achievement. It helped them feel recognised, valued and proud of what they had accomplished together. Although presenting their plans felt nerve-racking at first, they embraced the challenge and enjoyed seeing all their hard work come to life.

One of the highlights of the project was tackling the escape room, where the group worked together to solve clues, communicate and support one another under pressure. They also loved spending time at the beach, enjoying the sunshine, paddling in the sea and making memories together outside the classroom. As well as being lots of fun, the trip gave the group valuable opportunities to strengthen their friendships and grow in confidence.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing! Deciding where to eat required negotiation and compromise, while tasks such as speaking to staff at the aquarium or ordering food independently pushed some of the young people outside of their comfort zones. These experiences have helped the group become more confident communicating with adults and making decisions for themselves.

Looking back, the group were especially proud of how much they had grown throughout the programme. They developed their communication and negotiation skills, became more confident speaking to people in positions of responsibility and learnt how to make their own choices. For many of the group, tasks that once felt daunting, such as ordering food or managing money, became achievements they could celebrate.

The group also said that they had increased confidence and greater maturity, stronger friendships and a willingness to speak up and share their ideas thanks to KEY+.