Our South Shields charity is helping young women return to mainstream education
A South Shields women’s charity is supporting youngsters who have been excluded from mainstream education.
Bright Futures, on John Williamson Street, in South Shields is supporting young women across South Tyneside who are unable to access mainstream education settings for various reasons.
Since launching its weekly alternative education in September 2025, Bright Futures has already support 24 individual young women.
The programme looks to provide a safe and supportive environment, which is designed to re-engage young women who may be at risk of exclusion or who have already been excluded from school.
Rather than focusing solely on discipline, the sessions look to build confidence, improve wellbeing and help young people develop the skills needed to move forward positively.
Bright Futures staff work closely with each individual to create a sense of belonging, which can often be missed in traditional education environments.
A parent whose daughter is attending the programme commented: “Before joining Bright Futures, my daughter was struggling with social anxiety.
“Since attending the alternative education provision, I feel you have really helped her feel more comfortable.
“She is starting to come out of her shell and now always looks forward to Wednesdays - she especially loves the cooking sessions.”
Bright Futures state that there are early signs which suggest their approach is making a difference, with attendance to the programme remaining steady.
The charity says that participants are “showing increased confidence, improved peer relationships, and a renewed willingness to engage with learning”.
It has also confirmed that some of the youngsters have successfully returned to mainstream education.