How we help.
At South Central Youth, we empower young people facing huge challenges to feel safe, secure and resilient. Beyond that, we work to help them express their feelings and build their self-worth.
We deliver this change through different interlinked services, offering wraparound support to young people in difficult circumstances:
Crisis response service
Supporting young people through crisis times, including after experiencing sexual assault, being remanded in custody, mental health emergencies and extreme poverty.
Intensive mentoring
Tailored support given by a SCY staff member or volunteer, often over a significant period of time.
Therapeutic support
Including but not limited to counselling, CBT, creative and play therapy and physical or bodywork approaches to healing trauma.
Personal growth
Practical, hands-on sessions and courses designed to channel young people’s energy in positive and productive ways, help them make better choices and improve their communication and interpersonal skills.
Detached youth work
‘On the street’ outreach designed to connect with young people who would be difficult to reach through more conventional means.
“SCY has helped my family massively… they’ve managed to get my son into a school placement and a counselling service. They’ve been an excellent support for me, too.”
Where we work.
In Lambeth, 43% of children live in deep poverty.
(Source: Joseph Rowntree Foundation UK poverty report 2019/20)
Many of the young people we support are facing incredibly challenging circumstances, reduced opportunities and deepening divides between cultures, social status, education and employment. Many are also living with trauma, abuse, conflict, experiencing homelessness and witnesses to violence.
Violent crime figures and hospital admission rates amongst Lambeth’s young people are rising. Many report struggling with their mental health and feeling a sense of hopelessness about their futures. Recently Anne Longfield highlighted that since March 2020, there had been a 124% increase in Section 47 child protection investigations and a 32% increase in child protection plans.
This is a consequence of a society where inequality and injustice have been allowed to thrive. South Central Youth fills a vital gap left by cuts to local authority and other intervention services over the last decade, plus the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Thank you so much for the package. I’m a single mum to two children, one with special needs. Times have been really stressful… again, thank you so much for reaching out and helping.”