Employment charity Tomorrow's People wins prestigious award for work with gangs
Employment charity Tomorrow's People picked up the Justice Award at the Children and Young People Now Awards for its innovative project working with ex-gang members in south London.
The award was collected by Senior Adviser for the project, Simon Daley, on Thursday 17 November at a ceremony held in Wolverton House in Hammersmith, London. Now in their sixth year, the awards recognise the commitment, innovation and energy of those who work to support and improve the lives of children, young people and families. In-2 Work helps those aged 18-24 in Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth who have been identified by the Metropolitan Police as involved or vulnerable to local criminal activity. Many of these young people have grown up in poor conditions and lack role models, making them prime targets for local gangs.
The In-2 Work model is based on the need to identify each individual's employment aims, and the barriers which prevent them from achieving their goals. Group and individual activity is carried out over a six-week period. Course activities include 1:1 consultations, a supervised job search, peer mentoring and financial support for travel and appropriate clothing. Tomorrow's People project workers have discovered that the young people who attend In-2 Work have many transferrable skills that are of value in the workplace.
The In-2 Work project has had tremendous success. One participant, Dennis, has started his own website, pursued his interest in photography and directed a short film about the destructive nature of gang activities. Two other participants, Jermaine and Patrick, had an ambition to start a cleaning business, which now operates throughout the borough.
Senior Adviser on In-2 Work, Michael Mensah, recalls taking a number of In-2 Work programme graduates to a local estate to promote the project to other young people. One of the young men, Ramon, was amazed at the number of youngsters who were milling round, antagonising police officers and generally acting disorderly. He turned to Michael and said, '"I can't believe I was ever like that, no wonder people viewed me the way they did and I'll never go back to living my life like that - just wasting my life on the block, never." Individuals who have been through the programme often return to mentor current participants.
Tomorrow's People began running In-2 Work as a pilot in 2008, in partnership with the Metropolitan Police. The programme was then part-funded by the Stefanou Foundation for one year before being awarded nearly £500,000 from the National Lottery's Reaching Communities Fund in November 2010 to continue across the next three years.
An amazing 77% of participants from the first three pilots have moved directly into employment or training and 90% of these are still employed or in training after 12 months. Tomorrow's People recognises that there is a need for this type of across the UK and plans to double In-2 Work across the next three years.
Brian Gibson, National Manager - Young People's Services at Tomorrow's People, says, "This type of project plays a critical role in diverting young people away from gang life and criminality, showing them that there is an alternative and that with the right support they are capable of fulfilling their potential. The impact for their families, communities and wider society should not be underestimated."
