Starfish: Transforming Young Lives in Schools Across the UK

Today’s younger generation is navigating a world that is more complex and demanding than ever before. At The Salvation Army, we believe in the transformative power of hope, which begins with early intervention. 

Introducing

At its heart, the Starfish programme is about making a difference to young people. Working within a school’s wellbeing support, Starfish provides committed and trusted trained mentors to work with young people through one-to-one mentoring to develop positive personal and social skills, build healthy emotional wellbeing, and navigate life’s challenges.
 

Watch how Starfish is changing lives today.

Starfish fits into the school day with each session lasting between 30 and 60 minutes and provided weekly over a period of 8-12 weeks. Using the evidence based ‘My Mind Star’ tool, Starfish tracks progress in key areas such as self-esteem, relationships, and emotional health, ensuring that every young person’s journey is Individualised, Measurable, and Meaningful.
 

Through the Starfish programme

• 462 young people are supported through 77 mentors.
• 4,620 mentoring sessions have been delivered
• 96% of mentees see improvements in their school performance.
• 100% of teachers want Starfish to continue in their schools.

Josh's Story

Josh, a 10-year-old boy, was referred to Starfish after being diagnosed with clinical depression. He had a tough home life and struggled with low self-esteem. He rarely made eye contact and seldom smiled.

With his mentor, Josh created a "Worry Box" to help him express his concerns. Each day, he would write down a worry, place it in the box, and then close it, ensuring he would not worry about it further. By the end of his mentoring, Josh felt much better at expressing himself and reported feeling much happier. 
At the end of his time with Starfish, when asked if he was ready to stop his mentoring sessions, he said, "I am so much better at expressing myself and I feel much happier.”

Together, We Can Make a Difference 

With waiting times of up to a year for services like Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), the impact of 10 immediate Starfish sessions cannot be undervalued.

Donations to this appeal will be allocated to Starfish projects run by The Salvation Army. Our Starfish team have a range of projects and ongoing commitments, and we will seek to address any shortfall from other sources. Should we exceed our targeted budget for either area we will commit the funds to where The Salvation Army needs support the most. When reviewing your next donation, we can discuss the available options and determine which cause resonates most with you.

This Easter, your donation can make a real difference, helping young people overcome their challenges and step confidently into a future full of opportunity and hope.