How Flourished Minds is helping young people to achieve their goals

Flourished Minds has been awarded a share of National Lottery funding through the Covid-19 Community-Led Organisations Recovery Scheme (CCLORS). The social enterprise has teamed up with the Ujima tuition project in Chapeltown to try and help narrow the educational attainment gap that already exists for black young people. The CCLORS scheme is led by Power To Change in partnership with other groups. Its chief executive officer Vidhya Alakeson said: “While Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on people right across the country, it has disproportionately affected Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. By bringing together this strategic partnership, we’ve ensured this much-needed financial support is reaching those communities that need it most.” Karen Cruise, director and founder of Flourished Minds, said: “This grant will give hope and opportunity to young, black people and show them just how fantastic they really are, helping them to achieve their fullest potential academically and personally.” Karen’s mission is to work with all young children to help them achieve their brightest future. She added: “It really is about all children. At Flourished Minds we are not selective. We will work with any children of any background.” She added: “We just focus on where the gaps are, that’s all we do. We want every single child to excel.” Flourished Minds was only set up in January this year and has so far secured more than £35,000 for its personal development work with youngsters. Karen knows how hard it can be to succeed and often uses her own experience in coaching sessions. She left school with ‘nothing’ but went on to forge a 30-year career in social housing. During that time she did training and personal development. She went back to college and “absolutely smashed” her GCSEs when she was 51. She also took a degree. Around four-years-ago she set up Cruise Coaching Consultancy and that led her to working with young people. The businesswoman said: “I say this to the children, ‘I was born in Chapeltown and I lived there for many years. I left school with no qualifications and I’ve done what I’ve done through hard work, determination and by being supported by some really great people. I’ve ended up at university and I have got two businesses. If you had told me that even ten years ago I wouldn’t have believed it. “If I can do it anyone can’.” But the emphasis is not on telling young people what to do but to let them spell out their strengths, goals and possible barriers to success. Flourished Minds doesn’t just work with young people, it also works with parents, carers and teachers to understand the whole situation. This week Karen had a welcome validation of her coaching techniques. One of the schoolchildren she has been coaching has made real strides forward during their time together. The child told Karen: “I’m really happy that I’ve got voted onto the school council and with all the coaching that we’ve had. I feel much better about myself. I want to show everybody how good I can be.” An elated Karen replied: “You have just made my day.” CASE STUDY: Flourished Minds has witnessed a huge demand for its services during the pandemic. The social enterprise was only registered in January and began working in earnest in March. Its director, Karen Cruise, said some parents had told her their children had suffered anxiety through lockdown. She added: “The demand for our work has massively increased because, unfortunately, of Covid. We didn’t set up with Covid in mind. We just set up to coach young people. It’s been quite sad in a way but I’m just glad we’re doing what we’re doing.” Flourished Minds has been working with children at Beckfoot Heaton Primary School in Bradford after securing £25,600 in public funding. Karen said: “That funding was specifically for children who were really struggling with confidence and self-esteem. After the coaching, the teachers have seen them really focus and settle down into their work. They are starting to feel better about who they are.” Flourished Minds has also set up the SMILE (Success, Motivation, Inspiration, Learning, Empower) project. The fund will help children who are in need of school essentials like books and clothing. Flourished Minds hopes to roll this out to schools across Yorkshire that it works with. Despite its brief history, Flourished Minds has already made an impact. It has won a Windrush award for Social Enterprise of the Year - Leeds from the African Caribbean Achievement Project. See: flourishedminds.co.uk for more.