The participants are put through the certificated leadership course over a stay at an outdoor education centre. Taking the young people away & getting them to try outdoor activities pushes them out of their comfort zone & encourages them to develop. The course is a mix of engaging theory & practical sessions with a focus on key life skills & the leadership qualification criteria. Once they have completed the course they then volunteer and utilise the skills they have learnt & developed.

Young people lack workplace skills such as communication and team working, a study among employers has suggested. The British Chambers of Commerce survey of 3,000 firms found nine out of ten thought school leavers were not ready for employment. Three-quarters of the companies surveyed put the situation down to a lack of work experience, and more than 50% said young people did not have even basic skills such as communication. Berkshire Youth's Leadership Academy looks to improve those key skills.

The young people will develop key skills, with a focus on leadership, team work, communication & confidence. They will achieve a nationally recognised leadership accreditation through Open College Network (OCN) & also have the opportunity to volunteer & give back to their local community. The number of young people who graduate from the leadership academy completely depends on the funding we receive, as more funding means more graduates. Currently, we have seen over 300 young people graduate.