Mentoring programme to target London's disadvantaged young men

The Eastside Young Leaders Academy founder, who resigned from his mayoral post in 2008 following allegations of financial irregularities and inappropriate misconduct dating back to the late 1990s, is setting up an initiative called Capital Men.

The new organisation plans to work alongside existing voluntary sector groups to train 1,000 men aged between 21 and 55 to work with young men aged between 12 and 17. Lewis said: "The mentoring opportunities will be provided by organisations that already offer similar services. Capital Men will essentially act as brokering service."

Lewis said that the programme was needed in the capital as too many young men were growing up without a father figure in their lives. "What we have is a pressing need and a burgeoning problem," he said. "We recognise that on the ground young people are still hurting one another and young adults are lost and crying out for support. We want to build an army of men who can help fill this vacuum." 

The official launch will take place at London's City Hall in the next few weeks and the scheme will be rolled out in the autumn. Lewis said the scheme hadn't received any funding so far but he hoped it would eventually be supported by private donors and grant-making trusts.

In 2008, London Mayor Boris Johnson pledged to create more mentoring opportunities in the capital as part of his youth strategy Time for Action.