Managing Director / CEO - 50-50 SYNC CIC
Rod
has dedicated over 30 years supporting marginalised and vulnerable young people
and their families within different Local Authority Services and over 10 years
in a social enterprise.
He
started as a senior worker within in Play, Youth, and Community Services and
went on to become a Sports Development Officer, creating innovative programmes
for marginalised young people.
His
work was recognised by the LA and Sport England (South Region) where he was
commissioned to deliver workshops to other LA’s sports development services.
Rod then became more involved in disability sport for children and adults
organising sports programmes, working alongside local voluntary groups,
disability services and SEND Schools.
Rod
was then commissioned by the head of alternative education to create and launch
a sports programme supporting young people Educated Other Than At School
(EOTAS). The programme was highly successful and led to Rod becoming the
Pastoral Deputy Headteacher of the local SEMH secondary school.
In
2011 Rod became a managing director of the social enterprise
50-50
SYNC CIC. He helped to deliver innovative programmes and
interventions
mainly in targeted struggling
mainstream
Primary Schools and more
recently
an SEMH Although School.
With
over 20 years of experience, David began his career in pupil referral units and
later founded a business supporting primary students with engagement and
behavioural challenges.
He
expanded his work to include strategic consultancy for local authorities,
helping children who faced repeated exclusions.
David
is known for developing strategies that enhance young people's life prospects,
focusing on holistic approaches that involve families and promote resilience
through sports and community activities.
His
interventions have diverted youth from criminal paths, such as county lines and
knife crime, equipping them with skills for further education and meaningful
contributions to society.
Michael
began his career in web programming and app development, later playing a key
role in creating the 50-50 LAB personal development framework.
Transitioning
to the education sector, he focused on developing user-friendly software
solutions for schools, collaborating with 50-50 SYNC to design interfaces for
students, parents, and stakeholders.
His
network includes industry experts known for national product development in
education.
Supported
by a UK administration team and overseas developers, Michael efficiently
delivers customized software, expanding the company’s impact.
We are a social enterprise that has been
developing several innovative solutions and interventions for schools and
communities since 2011. Our focus is on supporting marginalised and vulnerable
individuals and groups, especially those with neurodiverse conditions.
We have created a successful skills-based
framework called 50-50 LAB, which has helped a wide range of young people, from
those in mainstream to those with neurodiverse conditions who have been
permanently excluded from school. Our framework enables them to either stay in
their current educational placement or transition to a new one, where this was
previously deemed impossible.
In 2023, we launched a new programme
called Individual Pupil Diversionary Support Programme. We are working with
Slough Active Communities to help deliver the StreetGames - Thames Valley VRU programme, which
aims to prevent young people from getting involved in crime and exploitation.
We target young people and their families
who are at the highest level of risk, as identified by the Police, Community
Safety Team, Social Services or Local Authority Children and Young People
Services. We use a ‘triage’ principle in our diversionary programme, which
keeps the young person and their family at the centre of our Mechanisms of
Change (MoC)
process. We also help them to develop and embed employability skills, emotional
resilience, and the confidence they need to access the local sports clubs.
Nevertheless, we've discovered that many
disadvantaged young people we assist encounter diverse obstacles that hinder
their engagement in sports. These barriers can be attributed to their existing
social, cultural, economic, or historical circumstances. They may also include
a lack of social aptitude, physical/technical proficiency, or the motivation to
actively participate in sports.
What We Provide
We
provide the following mentoring support to the young people and their families including
those young people in care:
·Mechanism of Change Assessment: This assessment measures the
young person’s understanding of 18 skills and how they apply them at home and
in the community. The young person gives their own views on each skill, and
their parent or carer also evaluates their child’s use of the skills. Up to
three other professionals who work closely with the young person (such as
teachers, social workers, youth workers, sports coaches, or YOT workers) can
also assess the young person on the 18 skills.
·Physical activity programme: This programme follows a
‘triage’ principle and offers individual or small group support to help the
young person develop their executive functioning skills, which are often
related to behavioural issues. The programme uses local public spaces, such as parks,
sports centres, libraries, and shops, to create opportunities for the young
person to practice their key skills and improve their decision making in the
community. The programme aims to increase the young person’s engagement,
aspiration, health, and fitness.
·Additional targets: Within the activity sessions, we
set additional targets that focus on the skills that the young person scored
lowest on in their Mechanism of Change Assessment. These targets help the young
person to show their progress and development in those skills.
·50-50 LAB: This is a digital platform that
monitors and measures the young person’s progress and provides live data for
professionals to analyse and address any concerns. The platform also allows us
to share evidence of progress with multiple users who support the young person,
such as parents, carers, teachers, or social workers. We can also train and
onboard other professionals to access 50-50 LAB and use our principled approach
to help the young person develop their skills.
·LAB Home: This is a programme that seeks
to improve the young person’s engagement at home with their parents, carers,
and siblings. The programme provides activities and resources that encourage
the young person and their family to practice the 18 skills together.
·Future aspirations and pathways: We help the young person to
identify and pursue their future goals and plans. We also support them in
finding and applying for suitable opportunities, such as schools, colleges, or
jobs.
·Evidence journals: We produce photo-evidence
journals that showcase the young person’s achievements and skills. These
journals can enhance their applications and counteract any negative or outdated
information in their Education, Health and Care Plans.
·Employer engagement: We provide opportunities for
potential employers to meet the young person and see how they have developed
their employability skills. We also help the young person to prepare for
interviews and assessments.
·Family support: We support the families by
attending meetings with professionals from Children Services, Social Care, and
Youth Justice. We also advocate for the young person’s needs and interests.
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