Our services
Experienced social worker and founder of The Skills 2 Thrive, Dougie Stringer. Blending powerful personal story with professional insight, this session explores post traumatic growth, resilience, and the tools young people need to navigate the transition to adulthood with confidence, purpose, and hope.
Training The Transition Toolkit: Thrive Into Adulthood – Webinar Overview
Our Transition Toolkit: Thrive Into Adulthood webinar is designed to equip professionals with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to better support young people leaving care.
This engaging session explores the challenges care-experienced young people face when transitioning into independence and adulthood — from housing and budgeting to emotional resilience and building support networks.
A key part of the session focuses on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and how these can manifest in adulthood, including through behaviours such as substance use, poor mental health, and self-sabotage.
Dougie, a care-experienced social worker and founder of Skills 2 Thrive, shares his own powerful story of navigating the care system, overcoming adversity, and transforming trauma into growth — offering real insight into what works and why.
Participants will gain practical tools to foster confidence, independence, and a growth mindset in the young people they support — helping them not just to survive, but to thrive.
Delivered online or Via Mobile App
Certificate of completion provided
Self Paced
Tracked Progression
Mentoring
Join us for an inspiring and practical webinar, Thriving Into Adulthood, led by care-
experienced social worker and founder of Skills 2 Thrive, Dougie
Stringer. Blending powerful personal story with professional insight, this session
explores post traumatic growth, resilience, and the tools young people need to
navigate the transition to adulthood with confidence, purpose, and hope.
Consulting
Real Experience. Real Insight. Real Impact.
Dougie offers bespoke consulting for organisations looking to better understand, support, and engage care-experienced young people. With lived experience of the care system and over a decade working as a social worker and leaving care professional, Dougie brings a unique mix of authenticity, frontline knowledge, and strategic thinking. Whether you’re developing a new service, reviewing policies, or looking to improve outcomes for young people transitioning to independence, Dougie works alongside
your team to offer honest feedback, practical solutions, and youth-informed insight that makes a real difference.
Keynote Speaking
Turning Lived Experience Into Lasting Impact
Dougie is a passionate, authentic speaker who brings raw honesty, energy, and hope to every stage. Drawing on his own journey through the care system—and over a decade supporting young people as a social worker—Dougie speaks from the heart about resilience, trauma, identity, independence, sport and the power of positive relationships. Whether it’s a national conference, a local training day, or an inspiring talk for professionals and young people, Dougie shares real stories, hard truths, and practical takeaways that challenge mindsets and spark change.
LEARN MORE
Popular topics include:
Growing up in care
What young people really need
Post Traumatic Growth
Moving from survival to strength
Independence isn't a checklist
Preparing young people for adulthood
Finding purpose through pain.
Youth voice.
How to make it real, not just token
How sport can save lives.
The Solution
Skills 2 Thrive is an innovative digital platform designed to empower young people leaving care with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to thrive in adulthood. The platform delivers engaging, care experienced video-led content focused on essential life skills, helping young people navigate the transition from care with greater independence.
In addition, organisations can create bespoke pages with tailored content and custom modules, accessible exclusively to the young people they support.
Also acts as a national and local resource toolkit providing signposting to specialist services , guidance and support.