💡 Young Dream Builders – Creative Enterprise Mentoring
Young Dream Builders is a 1:1 or group mentoring program that helps neurodivergent young people turn their passions, ideas, and talents into something real - their own business, project, or purpose-driven pathway.
Many of the children and young adults we support haven’t had access to qualifications or feel excluded from traditional routes. They may struggle with anxiety, trauma, or working for someone else - but that doesn’t mean they can’t succeed.
We believe they can build something incredible. We’re here to show them they can.
👥 Who It’s For
- Neurodivergent young people aged 11–25
- Especially those excluded from traditional school or employment pathways
- Young people with creative, gaming, digital, or entrepreneurial interests
- Teens and young adults with anxiety, PDA, trauma, or shutdown patterns
- Those who have ideas but need encouragement, mentoring, and structure
🌱 What We Do
- Help young people explore business ideas or creative pathways
- Support them to build confidence, identity, and direction
- Show them that self-employment, entrepreneurship, and leadership are possible
- Use mentoring, planning tools, and coaching to take their dream from idea to action
- Hold a safe space where their vision is never too much
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🧭 Our Belief
Not everyone fits the system. Not everyone wants to work for someone else.
But that doesn’t mean they can’t succeed.
We believe:
- Your dreams matter.
- You don’t need qualifications to create value.
- You don’t have to “fit in” to achieve big things.
- Your idea — no matter how small — is worth exploring.
And we’re here to help you build it. -
🧠 Why It Works
Most of the young people we work with have spent years being told what they can’t do. Their reports, plans, and experiences are full of challenges, labels, and restrictions.
At Young Dream Builders, we flip the lens. We start with what they’re good at — what excites them, motivates them, and makes them feel like themselves.
We believe every young person has a right to dream. And more than that — a right to build it. -
🛠️ What’s Included
- 1:1 creative business/enterprise mentoring
- Support from mentors trained in youth enterprise, trauma, and SEND
- Outcome mapping for EHCP or AP support
- Certificate of Completion or mini project showcase
- Parent consultation and pre-agreed outcomes
- Optional ASDAN enterprise module
- Can run alongside Passion Pathways or other mentoring
🔐 Safety & Support
- Trauma-informed and PDA-aware mentors
- DBS-checked and safeguarding compliant
- Flexible online or in-person formats
- No pressure, no deadlines — just encouragement and belief
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🔬 Backed by Research
- Young people who feel purposeful are more motivated and resilient (Damon, 2008)
- Creative entrepreneurship builds life skills and future readiness (Nesta, 2021)
- Person-led projects help with anxiety, depression, and self-efficacy (Rosenbaum & Krentzman, 2020)
💬 What Young People Say
“I never thought I could make something like this. I showed it to my brother and now I want to do more.”