This month, Community Support Team CIC (CST) proudly celebrates six years of providing dedicated support to young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). While our journey began in 2012 under the banner of Growing Together, our initial focus on giving young people hands-on horticulture experience to gain work skills and help the local community has evolved tremendously over the years.
In 2019, we rebranded as CST, reflecting our expanded mission to offer targeted support to the most vulnerable young people – particularly those unable to attend a full-time school placement. Since our official launch on 15th September, CST has supported over 200 children and young people, helping them find suitable schools or specialist placements.
We work closely with local schools, providing specialist learning mentors daily to help prevent permanent exclusions. Our collaborative approach also involves case officers, families, and social workers, ensuring that every young person receives tailored support and the best possible outcomes.
The challenges of 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic tested our team like never before. We supported young people in hospital wards struggling with their mental health and provided 24-hour care to a young person who had become homeless. During school closures, we organised food collections for care homes and donated essentials to families and staff who were unable to leave.
Beyond these critical interventions, CST has continually gone above and beyond to create opportunities for the young people we support. Seeing them flourish, often against significant odds, has been both humbling and inspiring.
As a not-for-profit organisation, CST remains committed to strengthening community partnerships. Our team has contributed time, money, and expertise to numerous causes, including:
- Helping a terminally ill gentleman achieve the wedding of his dreams, with team members volunteering on the day and even paying for the groom and best man’s suit hire.
- Supporting families during Christmas events.
- Donating a bell for children to ring after completing cancer treatment.
- Contributing to the Air Ambulance, local inclusive sports groups, and the local hospice.
Every day, our team strives to ensure that young people have the opportunities they deserve to lead fulfilling and successful lives. We are immensely proud of the difference we make and remain committed to shaping brighter futures for the next generation.
Here’s to many more years of making a positive impact.
