At The Cultural Connection, our programmes address the root causes of trauma, exclusion, and systemic inequality. We create culturally grounded, trauma-informed spaces that support young people and vulnerable adults to reflect, rebuild, and reconnect with opportunities. Our two core programmes - Steps2Success and Staged Realities - form a holistic, community-driven model that blends mental health empowerment, employability skills, and creative intervention.

🌱 Steps2Success: Mental Health Empowerment & Employability

Steps2Success is our flagship programme, created to support young people and vulnerable adults who are furthest from education, employment, or training. It blends trauma-informed psychoeducation, creative expression, and reflective group work to build wellbeing, aspiration, and independence.

Originally developed for school settings, Steps2Success has been delivered to students at risk of exclusion and disengagement. In educational environments, it supports resilience, emotional regulation, and re-engagement with learning. Through delivery in forensic mental health settings, the model has been clinically refined - deepening trauma-informed practice, safeguarding alignment, and therapeutic engagement.

What We Offer

• Creative and reflective workshops
• Employability and life skills training
• Work experience and mentoring
• Trauma-informed, culturally safe facilitation

📊 Impact Snapshot: Steps2Success

Since 2019, Steps2Success has supported over 100 young people and vulnerable adults across schools, community spaces, and secure forensic mental health units.

Engagement & Retention

•100% attendance among all participants who continued past the introductory session
•Only four early disengagements, helping us improve early-stage relationship-building

Participant Outcomes

•100% of consistently engaged participants report:
- Increased confidence
- Stronger self-awareness
- Better ability to plan for the future

End of Programme Feedback

“I have anxiety and the workshops helped me come out of my comfort zone and open up more.”— KA, participant

“The workshops helped me understand how important my business and life choices are.” — TS, participant

"I feel a lot more confident in approaching a job interview and I am excited about the future and getting a job" — DH, participant

Professional Reflections

Educators and clinicians consistently highlight the strength of therapeutic relationships and emotional engagement:

“The facilitators made a good effort in building therapeutic relationships, this added real value to the sessions. All service users were able to engage as the facilitators worked at a pace where the service users were able to grasp the contents of the lesson. Those who engaged in the sessions reported how well they have enjoyed the sessions. I would like to see more of these sessions offered to out service users”— RW, Clinical Inequalities Lead

“The programme was innovative and interesting, providing practical life lessons and preparation. It brought out the potential in people, uncovering surprising talents and instilling hope.”— JR, Department Lead

Recognised & Scaling

•Commissioned by the NHS to deliver across West Midlands based forensic mental health services.
•Grant funding secured from the North London Forensic Collaborative to widen our reach to forensic mental health services in London.
•Increasing demand from schools for trauma-informed inclusion support

🎭 Staged Realities: Culturally-adapted Forum Theatre for Youth Criminal Diversion

Staged Realities is our culturally-adapted creative intervention programme based on Augusto Boal’s Forum Theatre. Participants take on roles in realistic scenarios to explore peer pressure, consent, violence, identity, and decision-making - helping them rehearse real-world challenges in a safe space. Delivered in schools and community settings, the programme is particularly effective for youth at risk of exclusion, exploitation, or criminalisation.

Programme Themes

• Knife crime and youth violence
• Bullying, consent and peer pressure
• Mental health stigma and belonging
• Law, accountability, and structural inequality

📊 Impact Snapshot: Staged Realities

Engagement & Reach

• Delivered to over 140 students in high-risk school settings
• Selected as the most impactful session in multi-provider PSHE programmes

Participant Outcomes

• Increased awareness of personal and social consequences
• Stronger empathy and critical thinking
• Greater sense of agency and moral responsibility

Participant Feedback

“It changed how I think about my actions. I didn’t realise how real it all is until we acted it out.” — Participant, Year 10

Educator Feedback

“80% of students selected The Cultural Connection as the most meaningful session. The content was sobering and powerful.” — JS, Head Teacher

“I’ve yet to witness this level of impact from any external provider. The atmosphere was electric every time I came in to observe the different sessions” — ALN, Head of Department

Recognised & Requested

• Quality assured by senior leaders in multiple schools
• Growing demand from youth services and education providers seeking dynamic, culturally responsive interventions

🔗 Together, These Programmes Drive Change

Steps2Success and Staged Realities work in tandem to offer a joined-up, trauma-informed model that bridges mental health, education, and justice. Whether in a school, forensic mental health secure unit, or community setting, we walk alongside individuals as they build skills, strengthen identity, and shape their futures.

We don’t just reduce risk - we create opportunity.

📣 Work With Us

We’re always open to partnerships with schools, mental health teams, commissioners, funders, and community organisations.

• Interested in commissioning a programme?
• Want to bring trauma-informed practice into your setting?
• Looking to co-create something new?

Get in touch via our contact page to explore how we can work together to empower change.