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My Voice London

Project based in: UK

Providing mentors to help vulnerable young people re-engage with their education

The issue

Some young people in south London have a combination of personal, social and educational issues that prevent them from fulfilling their academic potential. Left unaddressed, they risk leaving school with few, if any, qualifications and joining the nearly 4,000 young people in their area who are not in education, employment or training.

The response

My Voice London uses mentoring to support vulnerable young people from disadvantaged families living in the 12 boroughs of south London. At present, the mentoring programme is helping 70 young people aged 10-17, of whom:

  • 45% have complex home lives (such as housing issues or chaotic parenting) – this includes 9% who are in care and another 9% who are young carers themselves
  • 52% are from black and minority ethnic groups
  • 34% have learning difficulties
  • 23% are at risk of exclusion
  • 6% are no longer in mainstream education (for example, they are now attending a pupil referral unit)
  • 19% have a history of substance misuse.

The mentoring process aims to give each young person the tools they need to make the most of their education, learn how to make informed and considered life choices and, ultimately, go on to lead successful and fulfilling adult lives.

The mentoring process

Referrals are initially received from schools and the young people then evaluated to help match them with their mentor. This assessment takes account of their goals, as well as the views of their school and parents, wherever possible.

Once matched, mentors meet with mentees for an hour every week at school. During these meetings, the mentors help their mentees to devise strategies to overcome their complicated personal lives and re-engage with their education.

Most mentors are volunteers selected and trained by My Voice London, although its own staff can also take on this role. The weekly meetings are confidential; however a thorough system of feedback and consultation ensures that any concerns are quickly identified and referred to relevant professionals as necessary. The mentoring is open-ended: it continues for as long as both parties consider it beneficial. This can be anything from six months to several years.

The impact

My Voice London closely monitors the outcomes of its mentoring process. To date:

  • More than 90% of mentees say that their self-confidence has increased
  • More than 80% say that they can now deal with life changes and challenges much better
  • Nearly 60% have improved their attendance at school / college
  • More than 90% are now attending school or college

“You are one of the few organisations actually working with young people and having an effect, you are on the frontline actually delivering benefit to the children, not just have meetings to discuss them.”  Teacher

The organisation

Originally called Merton Education Business Partnership, My Voice London has been operating as a charity since 1998. It is an Investor in People and a member of both the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation (MandBF) and the Institute for Education Business Excellence.  It holds National Approved Provider Status from the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation and was the first organisation in London to achieve the national Education Business Excellence Award.

The funding

Sofronie has made a grant of £20,000 in 2010/11 to support My Voice London’s work.

T: +44 (0) 20 8545 2131
F: +44 (0) 20 8545 2132
E:  info@myvoicelondon.org.uk  
W: www.myvoicelondon.org.uk