Founded in 2001 by Mike and Jo King, Releasing Potential helps marginalised young people develop essential life skills through innovative outdoor education. What began with sessions run from their Portsmouth home has evolved into a comprehensive educational organisation serving vulnerable students across Hampshire and West Sussex.
By 2011, responding to increasing referrals from Local Authorities, we established our first full-time programme in Havant – the Engage programme. Our success with young people who struggled in conventional school environments led to the registration of our Independent School in 2017 and our Alternative Provision in 2024, both of which cater for children with an Education Health Care Plan.
From these humble beginnings, Releasing Potential has grown into a comprehensive educational organisation. Our success with young people led to the establishment of an Independent School, which offers a range of opportunities from the indoors to the outdoor learning environment.
Our journey reflects our commitment to responding to community needs while maintaining the core values that have always driven our work: unconditional positive regard, outdoor learning, and personalised support.
We believe that every young person has innate capabilities waiting to be discovered. By creating environments where they feel safe yet challenged we nurture their abilities to take risks – leading to breakthroughs in social and emotional development.
The Releasing Potential team comprises a diverse group of experienced educators and specialists committed to transforming young lives:
Each member brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from various educational backgrounds, ensuring our approach balances academic excellence and personal development.
Since 2001, Releasing Potential has:
By combining educational excellence with therapeutic support and real-world experiences, we help young people not only overcome barriers to learning but discover strengths they never knew they possessed.
Releasing Potential operates with transparent governance and oversight:
Our Board of Trustees brings together professionals from education, business, and community sectors, providing strategic guidance and ensuring we remain true to our founding mission while adapting to meet evolving needs.
Want to refer a young person to our services? We welcome enquiries from education professionals, parents, carers and local authorities about 11-18 years olds who might benefit from our personalised approach to learning and development.
