Be Your Own Best Friend- how to deliver the YOB- Be your own Bestie resource.

Be Your Own Best Friend is a practical and emotionally informed workshop designed for social workers and professionals supporting young people who are leaving care or transitioning into independent living. The workshop equips participants to confidently deliver the 12 week YOB- Be your own Bestie programme to care-experienced young people, providing them with the practical skills, tools and resources needed to guide young people through each session. It focuses on equipping professionals with simple, effective approaches they can use to help young people develop the life skills, confidence and emotional resilience needed to navigate adulthood more safely and successfully. Developed by Joanne King through both lived and professional experience working with vulnerable young people facing trauma, abuse, poverty, family breakdown and social exclusion, the workshop recognises that many care-experienced young people have not had consistent opportunities to learn the emotional and practical skills often taken for granted. The training explores key topics including self-esteem, emotional wellbeing, healthy relationships, recognising signs of abuse, personal safety, safety planning, boundaries, budgeting, healthy routines, self-care and decision-making. It encourages professionals to support young people in building self-worth, understanding their own needs and developing healthier coping strategies and relationships. Rooted in trauma-informed practice and empowerment, Be Your Own Best Friend promotes compassionate, strengths-based approaches that help young people move beyond survival mode and towards greater independence, stability and hope. The workshop is reflective, engaging and practical, giving professionals tools and language they can immediately apply within their work to support young people to feel safer, more confident and more prepared for adult life.