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We are a 100% Black-led youth organisation, we have a black British female Founder CEO, who lives in the community we serve, we also have an all black voluntary board of directors, who are from Black British backgrounds with lived experience of achieving in very adverse circumstances and strong links with local and wider communities across London.
Richard Nero (Volunteer Partnerships Director): FinTech Consultant and the UK’s No1 LinkedIn Excel Expert Daniel Max- Orumbie (Volunteer Safeguarding and Vulnerable Youth Director): One of a small number of Black Male Social Work Managers in the Country Evonne Riley (Volunteer Finance Director): Head of Maths Department Becky Gittens (Volunteer director of youth voice): Ex participant, young mum and survivor of youth violence -100% of our directors are black -100% of our delivery staff are from Black, Asian and marginalised communities. -100% of our youth panel is from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds
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We believe that our participants are fantabulous. 'Diamonds in the rough', aged 10-25 years old from black and marginalised communities, predominantly living in social housing.
They are young people with draw-dropping creative thinking, inspiring values, unsurpassable grit, without solid guidance on how to focus their skills and talents. However, the rise in the cost of living is putting already struggling families under extreme pressure, unable to afford rising entertainment or youth participation costs or, due to the intersection of issues, struggle to organise activities for their children to participate in. Our systemic support has given us insight into young people's home life, where we are seeing high levels of need, i.e. parents who are no longer getting out of bed, children being fed unhealthy food, children whose mental health is suffering as a result of no structure or help to understand and respond positively to these challenging times. Families may be allowing another member of the family to live with them to share costs, or where parents are not unemployed they are working multiple jobs to make ends meet. Trying their best to love and care for their children, many feel overwhelmed, out of touch with youth culture, or unable to steer their child in a positive direction, this is especially so for caregivers who are supported by adult social services, or have a special education need themselves. Participants most at risk may live in either overcrowded homes, common households with extended members of the family residing with them or share a room with sibling/s, with little access to outside space and little structure to their lives, causing them to have no where safe to relax, reflect or simply have time to themselves. We are seeing young people who are bored, stressed, and anxious about their safety, friendships and future. Young people who may have already been struggling with school have been left with little support because many of the services they relied upon have limited funds or have stopped running altogether. 30% of our participants are at risk of or have been school excluded. The quality of school provisions does vary, however many of our participants experience educational inequalities, that create barriers to accessing high-quality education. Many participants need support to organise themselves, to make the best of what school is providing. Unfortunately, this support is not possible from busy, overworked or depressed parents, coping with the impact of structural and systemic injustice in their own lives. The above show the intersection of issues and gaps created by structural and system racial inequalities, causing young people from African and Caribbean backgrounds more at risk of violence and criminal involvement (as victims or perpetrator). Research conducted by Youth Endowment Fund shows that minority ethnic children were more likely to feel the effects of violence, or the fear of violence in their day-to-day life, with 55% of Asian, 54% of Black and 53% of mixed ethnicity children reporting impacts on their daily lives, compared to 45% of White children. 37% of children on free school meals, 46% of children supported by a social worker, and 67% of children supported by a youth offending team; they say they have skipped school in the past 12 months. 48% of teenage children who said they’d committed violence were also victims of violence. This proportion increased to 81% for those who said they were part of a gang, 78% for those supported by a youth offending team and 64% for those receiving free school meals. Black teenage children were, on average, more likely to be vulnerable as both victims (21%) and perpetrators (22%) compared to White children (16% and 14%, respectively). As such, through this project, we will target and prioritise young people who have the following Risk Indicators: - Receive free school meals - From a low-income / unemployed family -Single carer family -supported by a social worker/Looked After Children -Learning needs or neurodiverse -At risk of school exclusion / experiencing school exclusion (in all forms) -On the Camhs waiting list -Access Early Help services -supported by a youth offending team -Has a family member associated with youth violence, gangs or criminal behaviour -Past history of youth violence, gangs or criminal behaviour -History of being a missing person or experiencing homelessness (homelessness in all forms) -With caregiver receiving support from social services or NHS -Young people who are or have sibling/s affected by criminal exploitation (county lines) - A Member of family experiencing domestic violence, mental health or addiction Upon referral, young people must complete a registration form or contact, which acts as a baseline assessment and evaluation tools to assess the risk level of each young person. As such Risk indicators help us to assess -Our capacity to support the young person (and if not who we can refer/signpost them to) -Mentoring style and project best placed to support the young person -Thresholds necessary to engage the young person -If we have capacity if we need to prioritise their onboarding -How we can offer equal and fair support, based on the young person's needs. |
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The Mentoring Lab Community CIC
Rights and Equalities In Newham 478 Barking Road London E13 8QB |
Office Number: 02081588500
Office mobile/whatsapp: 07412640174
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Registered Community Interest Company Number 12269937
Website designed with the help of our Youth leaders
Website designed with the help of our Youth leaders