About Crossing Point Leaders Academy (CPLA)

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Bridging The Gap’s Crossing Point Leaders Academy (CPLA) inspires young people aged 16-24 from our communities to make positive changes to their lives and those around them by challenging them to be all that they can be. We aim to take each young person on a transformational journey over the course of 6-9 months that will see the development of core leadership skills which will give each participant the confidence to take control of their lives. Many of them experience socio-economic disadvantage which for some results in homelessness, unemployment and helplessness.

The risks and challenges facing young people are all too evident – drugs, alcohol, gangs, bullying, crime, early pregnancy etc, all of which can lead to increased numbers of young people drifting into lives of underachievement, disillusionment, disempowerment and antisocial behaviour. These can all have a detrimental effect not only on the individuals concerned but also on the families and communities where they live and work.

Since 2007 BTG has engaged and challenged these young people to step out of their comfort zone and develop the skills and confidence to positively contribute to an inclusive society. The uniqueness of the Crossing Point Leaders Academy programme comes from the combination of the different activities that creates this journey for each young person. The journey includes case management, a residential that focuses on facilitated development, development days where the group have access to life coaching and career development expertise the expedition and continued support post programme to ensure positive pathways are achieved. As their teamwork and leadership skills develop they are challenged to volunteer on local community projects.

Embedded throughout the programme is challenge. We challenge each young person to get out of their comfort zones, to learn, to fundraise, to work together, to focus on investing in themselves, to take the steps necessary to give them more control over their lives and to lead. Quite simply we tap into each young person’s desire to feel a sense of achievement, to gain confidence and to raise self esteem.

Some participants head to Sabah, Malaysian Borneo where they will undertake a 10-week expedition with BTG’s UK partner Raleigh, a leader in experiential youth development.  Here they undertake community, conservation and adventure projects working side by side with international participants from every walk of life. In this incredibly positive environment, young people learn from each other and push each other to achieve.

With significant successes in employment and education outcomes, supported by evaluation conducted by Murdoch University, BTG is expanding the programme, with an objective to be increasing the number of beneficiaries annually to 300 young people by 2013.

Past participants have formed an alumni group to support present and future participants through the programme and continue to increase activity within their home communities.