insideKENT Magazine Issue 96 - March 2020 | Page 150

IN ASSOCIATION WITH
EDUCATION
DARE TO DIFFER –
A UNIQUE CHANGE TO THE ORDINARY
DARE TO DIFFER IS A UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE ORGANISATION DEDICATED TO
IMPROVING THE WELLBEING AND MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
ACROSS THE SOUTH EAST OF ENGLAND.
Our targeted, award winning, interventions are
aimed at every individual, and we have a range of
programs designed to support children and young
people at key developmental and transition stages
until the age of 25.
Our unique tri-support system enables us to support
young people in their home settings, educational
environments and the community. We are proud to
have young people at the heart of what we do and
this provides us with a platform on which to develop
support that young people want to access - support
where they can succeed and achieve positive
outcomes for themselves beyond access.
Dare to Differ supports schools, educational
provisions, organisations, and local authorities
throughout the South East. We continue to champion
new and effective approaches and collaborative
working to improve the mental health of children
and young people. Our systematic approaches to
support ensure outcomes are achieved through
constant monitoring, assessment and evaluation of
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our interventions via a range of diagnostic tools,
including our pioneering Prism Evaluation Tool.
Our programs are designed to provide fast support,
when needed, to be easily accessible and have
great impact at vital stages of a child or young
person’s life.
Our aim is to fully support the young person within
all areas of their life. We together build and secure
workable tools and resources they can use after our
support has ended. When we support a young person,
we look at all of the underlying and contributing
factors that have led to the young person’s behaviours.
We then work with them to explore all aspects, as
we believe change and progress can only be made
when all areas are encompassed as a whole, rather
than offering smaller fragmented areas of support
for short bursts that may not be effective long term.
All areas of life affect our behaviours, thoughts,
actions and ability to move forward. Times are very
challenging for young people today, and much
different to our childhoods and our experiences
growing up. We provide support in order to move
forward together, understand the young person’s
environments and experiences, and secure avenues
for progression. We work to improve their ability to
be independent in growth and develop a positive
mental health, in order to be able to have the skills
embedded to approach life’s obstacles and key
transition stages such as, education, moving home,
leaving care or building relationships.
If you are interested about the services Dare to Differ
can offer your school or organisation, then please
do not hesitate to contact us and request an
information pack.
www.daretodiffer.org