Founded in 2017 by youth practitioner and project manager Elaine Isadora Thomas, we are a not for profit youth organisation that aims to provide long term mentoring and youth engagement solutions to young people from black and marginalised communities.
Our aim
Our main aim is to improve the social capital and mobility of young people from black and marginalised communities. By achieving this, we can reach our ultimate mission;
To end the circle of poverty for the young people we serve.
Our methodology
We do this by providing safe spaces where young people, through mentoring tools and techniques can; reflect on their current situation, explore opportunities available to them and develop the qualities needed to access the opportunities, succeed and secure their future.
Why we do what we doWith over 15 years experience in the youth sector Elaine set out to demonstrate that black led community organisations can and should play a major role in supporting local young people and families. It is The Mentoring Lab's aim to work with Local Authorities and communities to increase young people's social mobility and reduce the circle of poverty.
Who we work withThe young people we serve are typically aged 10-21 years old, live on housing estates and are from black asian, minority ethnic, refugee or migrant backgrounds, with a parent that has a priority need. Those that participate in our programmes may have additional learning educational needs or be a looked after child or receive support from their local authority social services.
What we offerWe provide young people with opportunities to learn, develop skills and the qualities they need to succeed.
We do this through the delivery of programmes that allow us to identify the most at risk vulnerable young people, who go on to benefit from our following services;
- Outcomes focused, evidenced based mentoring
- Detached, on estate youth engagement activities
- Online After School Club
- One to one or group tuition for young people at risk of school exclusion
By utilising GAME TIME as a gateway to engaging young people that have fallen through the gaps; we support young people in overcoming barriers to their progression and enable them to access wider opportunities, that would not otherwise be available to them.
