The National Black Boys Can Association, a major educational project operating under the umbrella of Excell3, was set up in direct response to the demands of the community and black boys themselves in 1999. It is a proactive, action-oriented project that aims to provide black boys with educational opportunities, valuable life skills, and the self-esteem, confidence and determination to succeed and to raise their aspirations and academic achievement to their full potential. Focussing on Black  boys between the ages of 9-16, the project seeks to break the vicious cycle of underachievement, unemployment, crime and imprisonment. We achieve these aims in a number of ways as follows:-

• Providing an effective personal development programme which is appropriate to the particular needs of Black Boys in their own local communities.
• Upskilling Parents to enable them to provide effective support for their children.
• Empowering local communities to run their own "Black Boys Can" projects.
• Working in partnership with mainstream education.
• Lobbying to effect change at policy level for under achieving Black boys.
• Providing a relevant service to other key stakeholders.

Community Franchises 

Initially operating as a front line delivery service to Black Boys and their parents the project developed an extensive range of best practice, training and empowerment programmes which have been widely acclaimed by the Department for Children Schools and Familiies and the national media. The demand to replicate these programmes across the country resulted in the project setting up a pioneering strategic programme to meet national demands. The Community Franchise Programme is now open for application to all community projects wishing to set up a Black Boys Can Project in their own area. For more information on Black Boys Can Projects across the UK, or to find out how to set up your own Black Boys Can Community Franchise, please contact us on nbbca@blackboyscan.co.uk or phone us on 0121 358 8618