Our mission is very clear: to help young people who don’t fit into mainstream education environments discover how they are going to earn their own living.

It’s about creating an environment that is suitable for that young person to learn. We believe that if we can create that environment, all young people—even those who aren’t shaped for mainstream education—can succeed.

Our journey began with doing work in a variety of schools. We were afforded an opportunity to work with schools on behavioural challenges, and our experience led us to conclude that some young people just aren’t suited for mainstream education. Some young people need a different type of learning approach, a different way of going about learning, and a different learning environment. The whole ethos of our program is to create a different feel than what they had in mainstream education – less formal, less structured.

We’re different in two ways. First, we support young people who aren’t a good fit for mainstream education. Second, we do this by creating a learning and training center environment that’s more relaxed, builds trust and rapport, and maintains a 1-to-3 tutor-to-student ratio. This environment allows students to progress at their own pace, without over-pressurizing them. The learning is targeted to their interests, kept meaningful, and made really fun.

We offer young people the opportunity to discover that they can learn. This journey could lead them to pursue higher-level vocational learning at a college. We can offer programs in anything from construction to retail, hospitality to creative design, mechanics to digital media. It really depends on what that young person is specifically interested in. We also provide tutorials that focus on social, emotional, and mental health needs, which are often the very needs holding the student back. By helping them understand and address these needs, they become ready to engage in vocational learning.

Some people focus on the concept of “full potential,” but for these young people, that potential is just not going to be realized in mainstream education. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t have potential. Our offer is really about building trust, building rapport, and helping these young people progress into wherever they want to go.