BIOS Pastoral Care Project
BIOS-Settings for Life
Providing pastoral care where it’s most needed
Visit www.settings4life.org.uk for full details.
What is BIOS
BIOS is a Swindon based community focussed pastoral care project. We are committed to positively changing the lives of vulnerable and disaffected children and young people living in the Swindon area. We provide a care service which seeks to holistically meet the needs of the young person and their family. This will assist them in their current stage of life and during their transition to adulthood and encourage them to make a full and positive contribution to the communities in which they live.
Who Runs BIOS
BIOS has been developed from our long term successes in supporting young people and families across Swindon over many years. While BIOS is a new project its work has been funded through ‘Schools Outreach’ in Nova Hreod College for the last 8 years. BIOS draws on this experience and expertise and is now established as a project of Swindon Youth for Christ building on their proven track record of supporting young people in Swindon since 1950. BIOS will build on the wide range of programmes SYFC currently run providing positive activities and support work in the community and in partnership with local secondary schools.
How BIOS Works
BIOS offers a range of support to meet the needs of vulnerable and at risk young people and provide pastoral care where and when it is most needed. Working in close partnership with local statutory and voluntary sector care organisations, BIOS provides a
frontline service through social action, mentoring, support and advice aimed at enhancing young people’s self esteem, self worth and attainment. This will have a positive impact on the wider community through tackling local social issues such as crime, substance abuse, anti-social behaviour, bullying and gang culture.
We recognise that the influence of the family of a young person is the most important factor in helping them grow and aspire to the future. Therefore we seek to support and empower the young person to help their family develop an active role in their own self improvement and development.
Through referral BOIS will work in close partnership with other agencies’ to develop an individual support package tailored to the identified needs of the young person and their family.
What difference will the BIOS make?
Those involved in the project have a proven track record in supporting a huge number of young people through a wide variety of issues, including bereavement, relationship problems, pregnancy, self-harm, substance abuse, educational issues and bullying. While supporting individuals our desire is to impact the wider community through alleviating the negative effects of social issues such as crime, anti-social behaviour, gang culture, mental distress, low aspirations and self esteem.
How can I be involved in the work of BIOS?
BIOS works with a team of volunteers in the communities around each school in which we work. If you would be interested in working with BIOS in schools or local communities to offer care, support, love and a listening ear to the young people in Swindon who need it most then please contact us.