RevolYOUtion – YMCA Thames Gateway
RevolYOUtion London is a self-help project enabling young people aged 14 to 25 years to debate, engage and inspire each other using a range of platforms to explore issues that affect young people living in Woolwich.
Examples of engagement includes, monthly debates, free access to revision books, advice and guidance on Further Education, peer mentoring and providing Christmas hampers for young mums.
The project is currently working in partnership with YMCA Thames Gateway to deliver the Aspire Project for Girls at Plumstead Manor Girls School, for those excelling at sports but not in other academic areas or youth activity. RevolYOUtion deliver the 1:1 mentoring aspect of the project; meeting students, looking at challenges, setting goals and offering advice and support.
RevolYOUtion offers young people a platform to air their views and feed into the agendas that are topical, such as homelessness, young parents, knife crime and gang culture.
The area is currently seeing a rise in gang related violence and the group is reaching out to some of the young people at risk of involvement.
By having an open door policy young people are able to engage and feel equal to their peers. It also gives them the opportunity to participate in activities where they have set the agenda.
The group’s interactions with young people have been effective; the members are all local, similar in age and understand the challenges that young people face living in the area.