Supporting young people: ARU's Trusted Adult Scheme
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Due to a concerning rise in youth violence, ARU, in collaboration with the Home Office, launched the Trusted Adult Scheme (TAS) to offer vital support to young people.
TAS provides a safe, supportive space for 13- to 17-year-olds, addressing the gap in tailored support for this age group. Every day, young people can enjoy snacks, drinks, and various activities, such as using a PlayStation 5, exploring virtual reality, and participating in music recording and street art workshops.
Participants have access to university facilities, including the gym and sports equipment. The sessions are informal and friendly, giving young people the freedom to choose their activities in a relaxed atmosphere.
Impact and benefits
Skill development: beyond entertainment, TAS offers workshops on financial literacy, career planning, and emotional well-being, equipping young people with essential life skills.
Inclusive environment: participants appreciate the welcoming atmosphere and the opportunity to connect with supportive adults. In 2023/2024, 64 young people attended, with over 72% maintaining an attendance rate above 70%.
Life-saving impact: one young person shared: "because I came here, I didn't get arrested."
TAS is more than a programme – it’s a lifeline providing a secure, nurturing environment where young people can thrive, feel valued, and develop crucial skills.
Practitioners involved in the scheme have said:
"This scheme has exceeded my expectations. I hoped it would give my young people something to do over the summer, keep them off the streets and ultimately keep them safe. They have attended the project more than I imagined and impressed me so much with their engagement..."
"The scheme has completely changed the face of work over the summer holidays and has allowed me to have two full days in every week, to spend meaningful time with [young people], in a safe space. The young people I have brought have not been in a routine like this in a long time and no one has engaged in such a thing before."
"These young people have made links with staff here that they respect. Staff have treated these guys with respect, and it shows."
"It has been highly effective, especially as it is a brand new project, and this is the first launch. I have seen traditionally challenging young people to spend quality time with trusted adults and practitioners, opening up discussing relevant topics. I have seen young people who are shy and often do not get involved in activities, get involved and come out of their shell.
"There has been at least one occasion when one of my young people would very likely have got himself into criminal trouble if he had not been present at the TAS."
When asked about standout moments, practitioners said:
"There were many standout moments for me, but I think I enjoyed seeing others slowly become more comfortable over time.
"One standout moment for me was helping a young person with their CV and hopefully having that impact to help them to get a job and give them advice and have them asking questions and wanting to know more was really nice to see that they trusted me enough to talk to me about things. It was also good to be able to help with things that the young person specifically asked me to help with, and them feeling comfortable enough to ask was a good feeling."
"It is the moment when you see behavioural transition in young people - when they stop being withdrawn and become open while starting to engage in activities."
"Being able to see the young people enjoying the opportunities that TAS provided. Such as, the young person who wanted to make a track, sing and enjoy the studio experience (probably they would not have that opportunity in their personal life) and I was very happy to being able to see their talent and happiness. It was a really memorable moment for me."