Bedfordshire to launch groundbreaking alternative education hub for local youth
A Community Crowdfunder is now live to help build a unique space blending creativity, fitness, and accredited learning for vulnerable 11–16-year-olds.
A bold new initiative is underway in Silsoe, Bedfordshire, as local education organisations Directional and The Academy Programme has launched a crowdfunding campaign to bring their vision of a transformational Alternative Provision Hub to life.
Designed for young people aged 11 to 16 who are struggling in mainstream education, the Silsoe Alternative Provision Hub will offer a fresh, inclusive model that integrates creative learning, structured physical activity, and nationally recognised qualifications under one roof.
The project responds to a growing national challenge: over 15% of young people in the UK are not thriving in traditional school settings due to factors like anxiety, neurodiversity, or social, emotional, and mental health needs (SEMH). While there are over 1,500 alternative provisions in the UK, the Silsoe hub is designed to offer something genuinely different.
“We believe in the potential of every young person, but they need the right environment to grow,” says The Academy Programme Co-Founder, Hannah Mittoo. “This hub is about giving students who’ve felt left behind a real chance to move, create, learn, and belong.”
Students will begin their day with core academic subjects, including creative English, maths catch-up, and PSHE. Lessons are delivered in small groups, with tailored support that builds both skills and confidence. In English, students explore poetry, journalism, and storytelling, while maths workshops address foundational gaps through hands-on learning. PSHE sessions, designed by a trained sports psychologist, focus on wellbeing, life skills, and emotional growth.
Afternoons shift into creative and physical enrichment, such as:
- Music and media production
- Songwriting, beat-making, and studio recording
- Functional fitness and Olympic weightlifting
- Goal setting and self-reflection
All sessions contribute toward ASDAN-accredited qualifications, ensuring students gain meaningful credentials while developing personally and academically.
The hub will serve Silsoe and surrounding areas, including Luton, Flitwick, Ampthill, Shefford, and parts of Central Bedfordshire, where many families face long waiting lists or travel distances to access alternative education.
“We are creating a space rooted in the local community but with national relevance,” says Hannah. “This is a pilot for what inclusive, active, creative learning could look like across the country.”
The Crowdfunder campaign is now live, seeking to raise £138,000 to fund the vital setup of the space. This includes:
- Specialist classroom equipment
- Professional music production tools
- Physical education and gym resources
- Centre refurbishment
- Staff training to meet ASDAN standards
- Enrichment activities like fitness challenges and public showcases
Every donation will directly help launch a hub that could change the trajectory of dozens of young lives in its first year alone.
Support the campaign here:
Together, the Silsoe Alternative Provision Hub will offer a lifeline — not just for students, but for families, schools, and the wider Bedfordshire community.