Earlier this month, HRH The Prince of Wales visited Meadowhead School as the new prevention programme was officially launched in Sheffield.

As the chosen delivery partner, Roundabout will work with several schools over the coming academic year, providing early interventions for KS3 pupils.

The Upstream team will assess pupils, and then work with individuals to address challenges they may be facing – ranging from school disengagement to poor wellbeing and family conflict. This has been modelled on the highly successful Australian Geelong Project, which saw a 20% reduction in the number of young people leaving school early and a 40% in youth homelessness.

The aims of Upstream are closely linked with our core philosophy – a strong commitment to preventing young people from becoming homeless and a belief that home is the best place to be, if it is safe to be there. Over the past decade, we have demonstrated our commitment to prevention as key to supporting those at risk of homelessness, disengagement, exclusion and wider vulnerability.

A pillar of this work is our ground-breaking Peer Education programme, delivered by young people with lived experience of homelessness. Our brilliant Peer Educators lead sessions in schools to break down stereotypes, exploring the reasons young people become homeless using real life stories.

The project also provides a vital platform for our mediation service, by informing students what mediation is, how it can help and where they can access the mediation drop-in service in their school.

“The Upstream project will have clear and lasting benefits for young people, providing support, advice and guidance around school, home life, relationships, and wellbeing,” said Roundabout CEO Ben Keegan.

“It will help them build the tools and skills they need for a brighter future because we believe that all young people have the right to be happy, safe, and successful.”