Merseyside Police partnership delivers real change for local young people

Merseyside Police is celebrating the success of Harry, a young man from Southport whose life has been transformed through Reform Education’s No Cap Fits All (NCFA) Programme.

This programme was funded by Operation Stonehaven as part of Project Medusa’s County Lines prevention work.

Reform Education is an alternative provision for 12–16-year-olds, also providing an education community hub out of hours service two days per week, currently referred by Merseyside Police.

Harry’s story is a powerful example of what personalised support can achieve. When 14-year-old Harry was introduced to Reform Education through Project Medusa, he was experiencing challenges with school engagement and finding it difficult to trust the support available to him.

His future looked uncertain, until he joined the NCFA programme.

The programme gave Harry the chance to design his own pathway, shape his timetable, and build a plan that made sense for him. In 12 months, he achieved:

Functional Skills qualifications in Maths and English

Developed awareness of personal safety and resilience, including how to recognise and avoid harmful influences or risky situations

Routine physical training and team sports to build discipline and mental wellbeing

Better attendance, improved behaviour, and increased maturity

A clear and realistic plan for his future

As his confidence grew, so did his ambition. Harry set his sights on joining the British Army – a goal that once seemed out of reach. With consistent routines, coaching, and support from Reform Education, he worked hard to meet every requirement.

Today, Harry, now aged 16, has successfully joined the Army and completed his passing-out ceremony, a moment of pride for him, his family, and everyone who supported his journey.

Reflecting on his journey, Harry’s mum said:

“He has done amazing, and we are all so proud of him.”

John Maguire, Director of Reform Education said:

“Everyone at Reform Education is so proud of Harry’s progress and achievements since he joined our NCFA programme.

“Harry was a bit lost and had lost faith in succeeding after several negative experiences but credit to him, he engaged with our programme. Our staff showed him empathy and gained his trust quite quickly, encouraging him to be positive through interventions and success stories of previous young people who had been in a similar position to him.

“We provided the platform for Harry using programmes like fitness, personal development and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) workshops to help him, but ultimately he used his own determination to get to where he is now.”

Jimmy Belmar, Senior Investigating Officer for Project Medusa, said:

“Harry’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. From the moment he joined Reform Education’s No Cap Fits All programme, he embraced the opportunity to take control of his future and worked tirelessly to achieve his goals.

“Seeing him proudly join the British Army is a testament to his determination and the incredible support provided by Reform Education.

“I want to congratulate Harry on his success and thank the Reform Education team for their dedication, guidance, and unwavering commitment to helping young people who want to change the path they are on.

“Merseyside Police is proud to fund this valuable prevention work through Operation Stonehaven, giving young people the chance to progress, thrive, and achieve their dreams.”

Operation Stonehaven is Merseyside Police’s preventative and diversionary pathway for young people. Working with more than 40 charities and organisations, the initiative delivers training, diversionary activities and targeted support to young people at risk of criminality. So far this year, Operation Stonehaven has reached more than 25,500 young people and provided targeted support to 670 young people.

Find out more on the Merseyside Police website.

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