In addition to its commitment to the environment through its Olive Green subsidiaries, Brook Henderson Group (BHG) has supported CRED (Creative Education) for the past 6 years and continues to do so on an on-going basis. CRED is a joint venture with Reading Borough Council, providing education for young people who, for various reasons have become disengaged with mainstream education.

The goal of the programme is to take a creative approach to helping young people who have been or are about to be excluded out of mainstream secondary education. It encourages them to obtain the skills and qualifications they need to advance in life through practical, relevant learning. The students typically have learning disabilities, behavioural or home based problems. Each year in the UK, one million school-age children fall into this category. For each of these young people, it's a potential tragedy. Statistics show that young people who drop out in their teenage years rarely catch up. A high proportion of young criminal offenders are persistent truants.

The students spend three days a week at the Learning Centre, studying a work-related curriculum. The remaining two days they spend on work placement in the community, in areas they choose themselves. They might study motor mechanics, the building trade, hairdressing, or photography.

The results are impressive. During the last school year (2005/6), attendance rose from at best 70% in their previous schools to 95% in our programme. Many of these students went on to jobs, traineeships, and further education. CRED has helped them accomplish their goals. Need new stats

BHG provides all the premises, infrastructure and equipment for the programme at a cost of circa £100,000 per annum. We are proud of our contribution to the welfare of our local community and strongly support the measurable social benefits which accrue from this programme for disadvantaged youth.