Mentoring Programme
Managed by our dedicated and experienced mentoring team and facilitators, our members are offered the opportunity to join the mentoring programme, where they can have dedicated one to one sessions with an experienced mentor in a non-judgemental environment, where they share their thoughts and concerns and in turn, their mentor provides a supportive ear to their worries and offer guidance where necessary.
We offer a consistent reassuring presence for members who need continuing support with issues of greater complexity and sensitivity and since the mentoring programme started in the spring of 2021, those members who have been mentored are happier and more inspired to succeed in life whether through pursuing further education or through apprentice schemes, or a successful side hustle. In addition, the mentoring programme has helped re-establish the positive relationship with members after the social distancing restrictions of the COVID pandemic, where now the Club has once again become a buzzing, friendly and supportive environment.
Having the opportunity to support our members in this manner, the Club has gained a greater insight of how community issues such as gang involvement, austerity measures, discrimination and mental health affect our members and their families, which has enabled us to start tailoring our mentoring framework and our strategic plan for the Club in a far more targeted manner than in the past.
Below are several examples of some tangible wins from the mentoring programme since its launch:
Many young people consistently get into trouble with isolation, suspension, and detentions at school. In this case, the mentee met with their mentor, where they undertook a web chart analysis to uncover the root cause for their behaviour. Together they focused on a respond vs reacting exercise, which helped them distinguish when best to use each approach. A target plan was established, which enabled them to have tangible levels of attainment as well as resulting in an overall decrease in detentions.
Young people are bullied for many reasons. In this case, the mentor talked about opportunities to avoid confrontation. A list was compiled to help them prioritise focusing on learning what is and is not under their control, rather than worrying about their lack of control over others’ behaviour. This led to the young person being better placed from a mental health perspective, as well as developing the ability to manage relationships, increase their understanding of the importance of identifying the root cause of the bullying and have the confidence to speak to their parents, the mentor or their teacher, if the bullying continued.
Often the young person is or was previously in a gang and participated in low level criminality. In this case our mentoring team sat down with the young person and using a spider diagram, showed how gang culture had a primary & secondary lasting effect on their life as well as their family & community. Having a greater holistic appreciation of the ramifications of subscribing to gang culture and membership, the young person became a constructive partner with the mentor, which enabled the young person to map out their options, once high school education was completed, by exploring options like college, as well as apprenticeships or job placement opportunities. Also, the mentor explored the young person’s hobbies and passions to see how their life could be made more fulfilled and constructive in their spare time. We are pleased that in many of these types of cases, the young person stops gang participation and becomes actively focused on achieving academic success or develops a productive side hustle, which could lead to a promising career.
Parent guidance & support
We also understand that being a parent is one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of life. The Club and its partners aim to provide parents with the tools, resources, and support they need to navigate the joys and challenges of parenthood.
Primarily through our mentoring service but also in collaboration with external trained mediators, we can offer a variety of services, including one-on-one consultations, group workshops, and online resources that are tailored to meet the unique needs of each family.
These services are designed to help parents develop positive parenting skills, build strong and healthy relationships with their children, and promote their children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development.
Creche
We understand that as a parent, finding quality care for your child is of utmost importance. That’s why we offer a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for your little ones to grow and learn.
Our morning creche services are dedicated to providing individual attention to each child, while fostering their social, emotional, and cognitive development.
The creche is also an opportunity for parents to leave their children for the morning in the caring and capable hands of our experienced caregivers, so they may attend a job interview, attend one of our morning fitness classes, deal with pressing family matters or help with their urgent childcare needs.
We also offer half term childcare support.
We believe that children learn best through play and exploration, that is why we offer a wide range of activities and educational resources that suit each child’s needs and interests. From arts and crafts to music and movement, we aim to provide a holistic approach to learning that encourages creativity, curiosity, and self-expression.
We understand that leaving your child in the care of others can be daunting, which is why we prioritize open communication and collaboration with parents.
We believe in working together to provide the best possible care for your child. We provide regular updates on your child’s progress and development, and we welcome feedback and suggestions from parents.
We strive to create a warm, welcoming, and inclusive environment where all children can thrive.
We look forward to welcoming you and your little ones into our community!
Career guidance and support
We understand that choosing a career can be a daunting and overwhelming task for young people and those in the community wishing to return to work after a time out of the workforce.
We have partnered with Southwark Works and other providers to provide guidance and support to identify individuals’ strengths, interests, and values, and to provide them with the tools and resources they need to make informed career choices.
The Club and its partners offer group workshops and online resources that are tailored to individual’s needs and goals. These sessions are designed to help individuals explore their career options, build their skills and competencies, and develop a plan to achieve their career aspirations.
We have been delighted to see several of our members, their families and friends, finding fulfilling and rewarding positions on business apprentice schemes and full-time employment in local government, retail and health sectors.
Youth Discussion Group
We know it is highly important for young people to have space where their voices are heard. In partnership with St Luke’s Church, we have established a youth discussion group for members aged between 11 and 16, focusing on the discussion of important topics related to young people. It has proved popular with participant numbers growing by word of mouth. In one session, the young people discussed ‘Drill music’ and the impact it has on their community. They were very happy to discuss a topic like this as it’s not likely to happen in a school setting.
All are welcome to our supported programmes, so if you need to talk through a problem with a dedicated mentor, need guidance with your career path or would like childcare support, please contact Daniel on 0207 703 2692 or email [email protected]
