NEXUS is a community project run by the Secondary Behaviour Support Service in the London Borough of Enfield. The essence of our project is to be an impactful and innovative community-based response to the exclusion of young people from school. Our borough has historically had high exclusion rates, disconnection between young people and the community, and difficulties in communicating with schools. A new approach and re-think was needed to recalibrate the normal response to the issue which was failing. That’s when NEXUS began. 

Our aim is to connect the community for a better Enfield. We partner with both internal and external organisations, lead and create projects, and encourage a cultural shift to support our philosophy - to give young people positive empowering experiences at secondary school. As we are nestled within Enfield Council’s Secondary Behaviour Support Service; our network and expertise of the area is extensive, and we can support our partners in the coordination of their projects too. 

We are a conduit for community organisations working with young people to gain access to schools, something they had previously struggled to do. It’s a new solution to an old problem. Through a range of interventions and diversionary activities utilising community-based organisations, we have dramatically reduced permanent exclusions in the secondary phase.

There is clear evidence that young people who are excluded from mainstream education are highly likely to become involved in criminal activities and be vulnerable to exploitation and violence, as well as struggle academically and socially - both now and in the future. It is imperative that this changes.

What we all have in common is a childhood.

Let’s make sure our young people are not excluded from theirs.