Red Balloon Learner Centres

Increasing numbers of children and young people are missing from education, not because they are not interested in learning or have been excluded from school, but because they suffer from severe depression and social anxiety. What causes this state of mental trauma differs between individuals. Bullying, abuse, mental health problems or life-long conditions are among the most common causes that lead young people to hide in their bedrooms. There, they isolate themselves from the company of others, from school and from society.This causes a downward spiral of social isolation, marginalisation, missed education and deteriorating mental health. They become ‘hidden’ at home and their voices ignored.Red Balloon is an alternative to school which enables young people to recover their mental well-being, resume their studies, reconnect with their communities and prepare for their place in the adult world.Students are at the heart of what we do, and there is an equal focus on mental well-being alongside education. Students negotiate their curriculum to ensure their interests and goals are being met, and their personal development achievements are highly valued. Through engaging with Red Balloon, students grow as individuals, restore their confidence, develop resilience, and build the skills they need to successfully return to education, work, or further training.