From education to employment

MBE of Leading Youth Charity to Host Inspiring ‘Progressive Change’ Conference

Norwich based youth charity St Edmunds Society is to host a motivating event at the beautiful historic building Norwich Cathedral. The event is set to encourage local and national based businesses to help continue to change the lives of individuals from backgrounds who are discounted in an educational and professional sphere because of their backgrounds and postcodes.

The inspiring event, on the 14th November 2019 10am – 4pm, will see credible businesswomen Kiran Gill, Founder and CEO of the Difference Charity and Sarah Dove, founder of Phoenix Education and President of PRUsAP, offer great insight into mapping Alternative Provision. The hosts will raise and discuss with guests relevant topics on the increase in 14-16 year olds being excluded from mainstream schools and the rise in the number of home-educated students being removed from schools by parents.

With over 52 years’ experience, St Edmunds Society is a collaborative vocational learning hub providing an alternative learning provision for young people entering Construction, Transport Maintenance, Catering & Hospitality and Hair & Beauty. The society has encouraged positive transformations for many people who have never dreamt of being skilled and employable.

Lorraine Bliss, MBE and CEO of St Edmunds Society says “I have dedicated over twenty-nine years of my professional and personal life toward young people and their education. I firmly believe that young demographics deserve to be listened to and encouraged to achieve their full potential, even with social and mainstream educational challenges. To be awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List for “Services to Disadvantaged Young People” means so much, the emotional journey has been worth it to see the faces of those we help.

I am extremely proud to sit as CEO at the society and see the conference as a fantastic opportunity for AP’s from across the UK to come together, to share knowledge and learn from each other. We know that we are all able to make a huge difference to these young people’s lives and will not give up regardless of obstacles that lay ahead.”

Construction Student at St Edmunds Society says “I have found St Edmunds beyond helpful and so rewarding. I have pushed myself to try new things that may have felt impossible before and have since seen my confidence grow. I have also gained a lot of new skills, learned to work in a team and work independently. I never thought I’d be the person I am today and can’t thank St Eds enough for their ongoing support and belief in me.”

The society work with many marginalised and disadvantaged young people, living in families who suffer hardship and deprivation. Many of them have struggled in mainstream education, faced exclusion or achieved very few qualifications and the event aims to make changes to people’s lives.

St Edmunds Society, who are also a partner of national training provider Qube Learning, offer a diverse range of training courses for students at both pre-16 and post-16. Whether they are a young person looking for training, a parent/carer or guardian, a referral agency or an IAG professional looking to place students. Excitement is building for the annual Progressive Change conference next month, at Norwich Cathedral.

For more information and tickets please visit here –  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/alternative-provision-conference-progressive-change-in-alternative-provision-tickets-54287028965 


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