Red Balloon Educational Trust

Growing up can be tough, and navigating school years comes with its own challenges. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your teenage self?

Red Balloon was founded 30 years ago, back in 1996, by Carrie Herbert. She noticed that children who suffered severe bullying often left school with nowhere else to turn. What started in a single house in Cambridge has grown into a lifeline for vulnerable children.

At Red Balloon, we understand ESBA and work to rebuild a student's confidence from the ground up. #ESBA

At Red Balloon, we provide a safe space for young people to rebuild their confidence at their own pace.

It can be hard to remember to navigate Halloween in a way that’s sensitive and respectful to people with mental health problems. Oxfordshire Mind has some great tips for this time of year. oxfordshiremind.org.uk/hallo…

It can be difficult to adjust when the clocks change this time of year. The days suddenly get much shorter as winter approaches. While the extra hour of sleep is nice, make sure to look after yourself as we enter the darkest part of the year. #fallback #daylightsavings

To help our students get the most out of their education, we aim for them to be happy, supported emotionally and feel like valued members of their class and peer group. #aboutus #whatwedo

Red Balloon was set up in 1996 to support young people who’d been so badly bullied they could no longer go to school. We found that the way we do things also worked well for other students who were finding attending a mainstream school difficult, and so we expanded our provision.

Curious about where your money goes when you donate to Red Balloon?

Many of our young people are neurodiverse, which includes #ADHD. October is #ADHDAwarenessMonth, and we know the struggles young people with ADHD can face. That's why we offer our negotiated curriculum that allows us to find an approach that works for each student.

We asked students, "What are you most proud of this year?" We love hearing what they have to say about their accomplishments.

It's #WorldMentalHealthDay and this year’s theme is ‘Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change’. At Red Balloon, we know how important it is to listen to young people. Mental health can affect anyone, and sometimes it can be difficult to explain how we are feeling. #wmhd

We strive to provide a provision that supports our students in the best possible way, and as such, we measure our impact by various means, including what our students think and what their parents think of the support we provide. #educationalforall #alternativeeducation

A reminder as we approach giving season to #tickthebox and #giftaidit when making a donation to your charity of choice! It's an easy way to give extra support to your favourite causes.

Every young person at Red Balloon is unique. When we empower them to follow their individual interests and provide the personalised support they need, they can truly thrive.

A little motivation for your Monday!

At Red Balloon we help our young people build their skills and confidence in speaking to others, asking for help and being part of a strong and positive community.

Tell us your advice in the comments!

Education for all! #education #alternativeducation

We're proud to say that last year, across Red Balloon Educational Trust, we provided over 19,000 lessons to our young people!