28/3/11
A team of Tottenham Hotspur Foundation mentors are helping 160 at risk young people find a way back into education, work or further training thanks to support from the Mayor’s Sport’s Legacy Fund.
The E18HTEEN project, named after the shirt number of Tottenham Hotspur striker and E18HTEEN ambassador Jermain Defoe, aims to get 160 16-19 year old Londoners who are living in care or are care leavers back into education, employment or training by July 2013.
Delivered by the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation in partnership with the Greater London Authority and virtual schools of children in care in Barnet, Enfield, Haringey and Waltham Forest, the project provides participants with one on one mentoring as well as access to18 sport and physical activities, 18 training and education opportunities and 18 hours of volunteering as part of an individually tailored personal development plan.
E18HTEEN project manager Alex White says the mentors are key to the project’s success; the mentors know the local communities and have experience in youth engagement and coaching.
“The mentor’s role is to build a relationship with these young people, who are often disengaged with society, and work with them on an individual development plan incorporating their ideas, goals and aspirations, “Alex says.
“They also support them on that path and signpost them to work, education and training opportunities in their local community.”
Wanting to provide his mentors with the best possible skills to support participants at minimal cost, Alex contacted the Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund. The Fund, delivered by SkillsActive’s National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure, provides up to 75% off the cost of training to increase the number of Londoners working and volunteering in the sports sector.
In September 2011, eight E18HTEEN mentors completed accredited Training 4 Mentors training with Shine People and Places thanks to support from the Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund. They learned the essentials of mentoring including effective listening and questioning techniques, mentoring models, and appropriate mentoring and learning styles.
Alex says the full day course was “incredibly useful”. “I’m confident our mentors now have the best possible skills to support their mentees. The subsidy also means our training budget will go further and we can direct more money to providing opportunities for these young people.”
Katie Couchman, Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund project manager, says: “I’m delighted we could help equip the E18HTEEN mentors with the right skills to be confident, competent role models for these young people.”
Grant Cornwell, Chief Executive Officer at Tottenham Hotspur Foundation says: “E18HTEEN is one of many programmes the Foundation delivers that inspires young people and adults to take positive steps to fulfil their potential. We are extremely grateful for the support of the Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund in providing our staff with the tools required to successfully engage those most at risk in the local community.”
Jermain Defoe, E18HTEEN Ambassador (pictured with E18HTEEN participants) says: “As project ambassador, it is hugely rewarding to see the positive impact that E18HTEEN has on the young people from the local area. The support from the Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund has not only helped up-skill the brilliant team of mentors but has channeled funds back to those who need it most.”
About the E18HTEEN project:
The E18HTEEN project involves Tottenham Hotspur and England striker Jermain Defoe as an active ambassador, positive role model and mentor over a two year period to 160 young people aged 16 – 19 years who are either in care or are care leavers.
Each young person involved has been identified to participate in the programme by Local Authority ‘Virtual Schools of Children in Care’, with the objective of keeping them in or getting them back into training, education and employment and ultimately preparing them for independence and adulthood. The programme offers an individually tailored learning and development programme with free access to 18 separate training and life skill workshops and 18 different sports.
Why the E18HTEEN project is needed:
- 53% of looked after children leave school without passing any GCSEs.
- 13% of looked after children achieve five A* - C grade GCSEs (compared with 47% of all children).
- 29% of looked after children are not in education, employment or training by the age of 19, compared with 13% of all young people in the UK.
- 20% of women who leave care between 16 and 19 become mothers within a year.
- 23% of the prison population has spent time in care.
