Offering professional programmes that involve IT training and health information sessions, alongside sporting events, gives them something to look forward to and brings education to an age group who are at risk of truancy or who often lack some of the basic literacy skills. It is well documented that children from disadvantaged communities are less likely to have developed good language skills prior to starting school and receive little if any parental support. The home life of the young people does not generally involve help with homework – parents themselves have often had their own negative educational experience and consequently lack confidence in the education system. They also suffer from a lack of information and the skills required to provide the kind of support schools expect. We therefore work on creating a fun environment for learning that includes homework, IT, creative sessions and general life skills.