Working with STEP Now to help young people

We wrapped up our pilot mentoring programme with the charity STEP Now in Lambeth this September. The 12-week free mentoring programme provided 21 young Lambeth residents with life skills, industry exposure and lots more.

Published: 13/12/2023

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One mentee was encouraged to join the programme by his mum. He'd previously received a Youth Conditional Caution (YCC) for drug offences. As part of this caution, he should have been engaging with the Youth Offending team, but he needed help to do this, and the team frequently reported him as missing. 

How the mentee programme helped him 

Throughout the 12-week programme, his mentor supported him to explore his skills and what he enjoyed doing. The programme helped him to undertake work experience with a popular barber and find out more about how he ran his business. 

The team from STEP Now worked with him to work on his career choices, look after his health and finances and appreciate the importance of family and friends. 

By the end of the programme, he'd created his own barbershop logo and was working as a self-employed barber. He also engaged with the Youth Offending team and has now successfully completed the terms of his conditional caution. 

How the programme works 

The programme is tailored to each participant's needs, providing support and encouragement and helping them to explore their interests in a safe environment. 

STEP Now worked with local networks and partners to help our group of 21 young people develop their life skills through industry exposure and hands-on work experience. This experience gave them the confidence to turn their aspirations into reality. 

As one mentee said: "I've been given opportunities and gained knowledge that I wouldn't have been able to get for a long time. This experience has helped my life in ways that I can't explain. It has been life changing." 

What's next for the programme? 

We're already working with STEP Now to provide another youth mentee programme for 2024. If you’re aged 14-25, live in Lambeth and you’d like to sign up for this free programme please contact mentoring@stepnow.co.uk  

Applications are open until May 2024. We’ll be in touch to let you know if you’re successful and how the programme will work once the application stage has closed. 

Remember to regularly check our events calendar, X and FB for all the latest news.  

Other ways to get involved with Step NOW 

Step NOW is also working with the VRU London Mayor of London and MTVH to offer after school football, gaming, music and filmmaking sessions for young people aged 11 – 18 years. Sessions run weekly at Brixton Recreation Centre, Clapham Park Cube, BRXTN Village Studios and 3Space International House.  

Register to book your free place using the Stronger Futures VRU sign up form.