London mayor invests £10m to boost mentoring support for young people

The £10m funding boost will support mentoring organisations in London to provide more mentoring activities benefiting young people vulnerable to exploitation or being drawn into violence, building on £24m already invested in this area by the mayor.

The funding boost, which organisations can bid for through the Propel Collaboration Portal, will allow for the provision of high-quality mentoring, including one-to-one support to disadvantaged young Londoners aged 10 to 24, greater support for the transition between primary and secondary school, and advice, training and employment opportunities for young people over the age of 16.

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Sadiq Khan visited City Heights Academy in south London to launch the funding and observe a mentoring session delivered to young people by youth workers from High Trees, a mentoring organisation working in local schools.

“I know first-hand the difference a trusted mentor can make,” Khan said. “Our record investment will mean that more children, young Londoners and families across the capital will benefit from the life-changing impact of mentoring and coaching.”

Speaking to CYP Now, Khan added: “We’ve already provided more than 50,000 young people with their mentor, and we’re already seeing real positive results, from better attendance at schools and pupil referral units, better engagement with teachers and so forth, and better progress being made in terms of education, employment and training – it shows the difference that a good mentor can make.”

Lib Peck, director of London’s Violence Reduction Unit, said: “A trusted adult relationship and the guidance they provide can sometimes be the difference between a path that can lead to exploitation and violence, and one that provides opportunity through education, employment and a chance to thrive.”

She told CYP Now: “We know that some young people don’t start off with the same advantages in life. Some suffer from discrimination, racism gender bias, and it’s really important that we’re alert to that, and make sure we’re working with organisations who have that reach into those communities.”

Zara Chaudhury, a year 9 pupil at City Heights Academy, said that having a mentor had been “incredibly beneficial” for her, adding: “Knowing that I have someone available to assist me has had a significant positive impact on my mental health. Previously, I felt alone and struggled to fit in, but having a mentor has provided me with a safe and nurturing environment where I can freely express myself.”