As part of KEY+ Transitions, a group of five boys set out to plan and carry out their own trip. The aim was to build confidence, practice budgeting, and learn how to work together as a team. After discussions and planning, they decided on a visit to the Metro Centre, where they could explore, enjoy new activities, and manage their own money.

The day was full of new experiences. For some of the boys, this was the first time visiting the Metro Centre without parents, which made the challenge even bigger. Together, they navigated the huge shopping centre, took turns bowling (where they were especially proud of beating the adults), went on bumper cars, played in the arcades, and treated themselves to food at McDonald’s. They even had to make decisions about whether to spend their money on sweets, Greggs, or more time in the arcades.

Not everything was easy. Budgeting was tricky, especially deciding what to spend money on with a set limit. The Metro Centre was busy, which was overwhelming at times but even in these moments, they learned valuable lessons about communication, problem-solving and coping with stress.

One boy’s story stood out. Originally in a different group, he found it hard to take part and didn’t feel listened to. When he joined this group in the third week, he was welcomed warmly, even though he hadn’t always got along with one of the boys. The trip was especially meaningful for him – he rarely has the chance to go on outings outside school, and he had never been to the Metro Centre before. On the day, he was excited, fully involved, and made significant progress in both his confidence and his friendships.

Looking back, the group realised how much they had achieved. They had learned to plan and budget, to book and pay online, and to communicate with people in shops and restaurants. They became more confident ordering food for themselves, making decisions under pressure, and supporting one another in new situations. Most importantly, their teamwork strengthened their friendships – by the end of the project, they were listening to each other, negotiating better, and having more fun together.

The group also told us how taking part in KEY+ helped them:

• Cameron: “Helped me with talking to people, increasing my confidence.”
• Ethan: “It has helped me improve my skills, build my confidence, become more independent and talk to different people.”
• Joshua: “It has helped me know how to plan a trip and increased my confidence in talking to people.”
• Luke: “I think I am better at the skills now! I made some new friends, got more independent, and am better at talking to different people.”
• Reece: “I am more confident and better at solving problems. I am better at being in a busy place than I was.”
• Tyler: “It helped me get better at going to new places and trying new things.”

When asked if they’d recommend the experience or do it again, the answer was clear: yes! They felt proud of what they had achieved, enjoyed the freedom of exploring somewhere new, and left with memories – and prizes – they’ll never forget.