From Inception to Implementation
In 2017, local authority councillors approached the secondary behaviour support service (SBSS) concerned with Enfield having some of the highest levels of permanent exclusions in London. Along with high levels of serious youth violence, Enfield was in a bad place. Our pupil referral units were completely full, to the point where young people were sent to alternative provisions, placing a huge financial strain on the local authority. The response from SBSS was that the issue was not merely a school issue. Our knowledge of the local authority told us it was a community issue. Our response to the councillors was to start up NEXUS as a whole community approach incorporating schools, parents, families, local organisations, community leaders and faith groups. The name NEXUS was chosen to represent that important connection between the parts of a system – in our case the community in Enfield.
The Commission on Young Lives report (2022) stated that they were ‘choosing to look at whole school and whole community solutions, and the need for a culture change in how we confront exclusion and promote inclusion and nurture.’ This is the essence of NEXUS, an impactful and innovative community-based response to the issue of exclusion from school.
Knowing that a different approach was needed meant that from inception, NEXUS required innovative stakeholders. Data showed that many young people on the verge or having been permanently excluded, or involvement with the youth justice system were from a faith background. It was important that faith leaders were able to support children and their families in their churches.
Over several Sundays, the NEXUS team met with local faith leaders from over 20 of the main larger churches to explain the issue and impact of permanent exclusions. Many then provided the opportunity for NEXUS to speak directly with congregations. We wanted buy in from the community, we wanted them to know that this new initiative was aiming to put the right people in front of students in need.
Concurrently, the demonstrated success of SBSS meant that there was a positive response to NEXUS as we built on established positive relationships with secondary head teachers. With the support of secondary school leaders, community leaders and the backing of cabinet members in the local authority NEXUS was able to launch.
The first project involved NEXUS supporting the setup of the organisation Holler with ex-footballer Justin Cochrane, to provide assemblies hosted by inspirers. These are role models who demonstrate the power of motivation.
