#3 Blog – Breaking Barriers

Breaking Barriers, Blog 3: The Power of Opportunities

Life is about creating opportunities, moments that help us grow, learn, and thrive. Opportunities give us the chance to build experiences and knowledge that keep us moving forward in positive and meaningful ways. While I understand there are times when opportunities seem hidden or even impossible, I firmly believe that even in the most difficult moments, there’s always something positive to take away.
This month marks the second anniversary of my dad’s passing. The grief and sorrow still feel overwhelming, but I find strength in the opportunities I had to spend time with him, making precious memories. My dad passed away while leaving the travel agent, modifying a hotel booking for a trip he and my mum were taking to celebrate my 50th birthday. It was a cruel twist of fate, yet it reminds me of how important it is to take the time to connect with those we love and to cherish every chance we get to make memories.
Reflecting on my life, especially since leaving home at 16, I realise how the opportunities I seized, even when they pushed me far outside my comfort zone, have shaped who I am today. Taking those leaps of faith hasn’t always been easy, but it’s those moments of courage and commitment that have created the path for everything I’ve done.

The Opportunity That Changed My Life

I’ll never forget June 1989, the month I told my mum and dad that I wanted to join the Royal Navy. Their response was supportive yet cautious: “OK, but there are lots of things you need to do first.” However, I hadn’t waited for permission to act; in January 1989, at just 15 years old, I had applied to join.
The process wasn’t easy, but the opportunity was too important to let obstacles stop me. My PE teacher allowed me to miss lessons three times: first, to take an exam at the St Helens recruitment office (a two-bus journey); second, to attend a medical assessment in Liverpool (by train); and third, for an interview back in St Helens. The final step required my dad to sign the paperwork as my legal guardian. This was when I told them that I had applied and had already passed through the first three hurdles.
I’ll never forget the Chief Petty Officer (CPO) at the recruitment office. He must have seen something in me. My naval academic assessment was 9-9, the lowest assessment possible in the system. For context, 0-0 was equivalent to a GCSE Grade C in Maths and English (no naval assessment needed), and 1-1 was the highest Naval assessment grade.
Had the CPO judged me solely on academics, my passion, enthusiasm, and willingness to succeed might have been overlooked. But he didn’t. He took the time to see beyond my results and gave me the opportunity to serve my country and embark on a lifetime adventure. And the rest, as they say, is history.
This story resonates with findings from the Millennium Cohort Study, which highlight the importance of critical periods during childhood. These are times when cognitive and socio-emotional skills develop rapidly, and creating opportunities during these sensitive stages can help children flourish. The CPO’s decision to see my potential during one such critical period is a perfect example of how the right support can transform someone’s life.

Opportunities Create Possibilities

When children and young people are given the opportunities to find themselvesanything becomes possible. My key word is ‘opportunities,’ and I love that we are hearing this more and more. Everyone has a niche; we just need the chance to discover or develop it.
Research from the Millennium Cohort Study shows how critical it is to provide opportunities during key transition periods, such as the move from primary to secondary school (ages 11–14). For children from disadvantaged backgrounds, these transitions are especially challenging. The study reveals that children who start strong academically often face sharp declines during these phases due to a lack of consistent support and resources. Without, their early promise is often lost.
Opportunities don’t just help young people build self-esteem; they also provide access to knowledge and experiences that might otherwise be out of reach, particularly for children and families who are socially excluded. For these young people, opportunities can bridge the gap between what they know and what they can achieve, showing them that success isn’t just for others but is possible for them too.
The study also emphasises the importance of socio-emotional development, particularly for children as they grow older. It highlights how gaps in socio-emotional outcomes widen for disadvantaged children in secondary school, further impacting their ability to thrive. Programmes like CHEXS, which integrate peer support and community-based activities, provide essential tools to build resilience, reduce negative behaviours, and address these gaps.
We don’t need interventions; we need meaningful opportunities. By focusing on the life skills needed in today’s workplace, we can help young people discover their niche, gain the knowledge they need, and make informed choices about their futures.
Peer support (Blog 2) plays a vital role in this process. By creating opportunities for young people to showcase their strengths and see how they complement each other, we inspire a sense of inclusivity and collaboration. This allows more children to strive for positive achievements and feel part of something bigger.

Opportunities Through CHEXS

At CHEXS, we are committed to creating opportunities that allow young people and their families to grow, thrive, and succeed. Through our GROWTH programme, we focus on four key pillars essential for the comprehensive development of children and young people:
  • Meaning & Purpose: Promoting a strong sense of meaning and purpose in life, which supports mental health, well-being, and healthier behaviours.
  • Resilience: Helping young people build resilience by demonstrating how self-motivation and discipline can strengthen their self-belief.
  • Expectation: Creating a safe, collaborative, and unified environment where expectations are clear and positive behaviours are encouraged.
  • Aspiration: Inspiring young people to think about their goals and strive to achieve them.
By providing opportunities, we help young people uncover “Their Niche” and realise their full potential. Our approach combines one-to-one and peer-to-peer support in neutral, supportive environments, addressing both their immediate needs and their long-term aspirations.
CHEXS also provides parents with opportunities
 to connect with others in a safe space, where people with lived experiences listen without judgment or intimidation. The Millennium Cohort Study emphasises the crucial role family background and parental support play in children’s outcomes. By creating these spaces, CHEXS helps parents feel empowered and builds trusted relationships that strengthen the parent-child bond.
Additionally, CHEXS values the importance of giving back to the community. Through enrichment activities, young people not only help others but also deepen their own personal growth. These opportunities to engage in meaningful activities reinforce the skills, resilience, and aspirations that prepare them for life beyond school.

Final Reflection: Seizing the Leap of Faith

Looking back, I see how the opportunities I seized, starting with that fateful day in 1989 when I applied to the Royal Navy, shaped my life. It’s about taking the leap of faith, even when it feels daunting.
The Millennium Cohort Study highlights the importance of sustained opportunities to help bright children from disadvantaged backgrounds maintain their early promise. At CHEXS, we work to ensure these opportunities are available, helping every child and family build the resilience, knowledge, and aspirations they need to thrive.
My dad’s passing reminds me of the importance of making lasting memories and taking every chance to connect, grow, and live fully. Life isn’t just about academic success or waiting for the “perfect” opportunity, it’s about taking the ones we’re given and turning them into something extraordinary.
At CHEXS, we create these opportunities for young people and their families, helping them develop the skills, resilience, and aspirations they need to thrive. Together, let’s ensure that every young person and family has the chance to realise their potential.
This quote sums it up perfectly:
“Opportunities are fleeting, like a biscuit dipped in tea. Take them while they last, because with just a little hesitation, they might be gone.”

Additional reading link as follows: 

 
See you next month for blog #4.👍
 
Many thanks
Pete Maiden – CEO CHEXS