Positive Strides UK

A Message From Mark Straker (Writer and Producer)

I am delighted to have been invited down to Reading by Winston and the team from Bredrin Filmworks to deliver the 'RG1' strand of Project postcode. Our Charity Positive Strides UK have been delivering short film educational initiatives for the past ten years and piloting this initiative as part of our 'Project Postcode'.

This project will be challenging, exciting and rewarding. I look forward to working in partnership with Reading Borough Council, Positive Futures, Urban UK Network, Hug Radio and BBC Radio Berkshire and of course all of the gifted & talented young people in Reading.

Mark Straker, Positive Stride UK.

Established in 2004, Positive Strides is a not-for-profit organisation working largely in Hertfordshire, delivering arts programmes within secondary schools and community venues, often in areas of deprivation. All projects are delivered in line with National Curriculum standards and are aligned to wider social agenda of health, community safety and citizenship.

Projects are resourced by means of both Service Level Agreements and a wide range of funding bodies. Positive Strides aims to enhance and develop the social and life skills of individuals and groups within the community who would otherwise be at risk of exclusion from mainstream education and the wider society.

Through innovative, personalised educational programmes, Positive Strides seeks to meet the needs of young people from diverse backgrounds who can benefit from support in engaging with training, education or employment.

Positive Strides helps young people develop a greater sense of self-awareness and confidence by developing their social and life skills and providing vocational and basic skills training. Positive Strides works with young people aged 11 to 25 from a range of diverse communities and backgrounds, many of whom experience exclusion and disadvantage in the fields of education and health.

Positive Strides engages young people in learning through the arts, music, drama and film-making and our work also addresses wider social issues such as health, youth offending and community safety.

 Please visit our website for more information: www.positivestrides.org.uk