Our Impact & Success

Transforming lives since 2008

Prior to the launch of Hope for the Young in 2008, our current Chair of Trustees, Dr Saedi, was part of a team of health professionals who set up and ran a mental health service for unaccompanied asylum-seekers in London. Three years later, when funding from the Department of Health came to an end, Hope for the Young was established to continue reaching out to the young people left without support.

Since then, Hope for the Young has grown significantly from a small grant-making charity led entirely by its trustees, to an organisation that reached over 200 young people across 2023-24, with ten staff members, over 100 volunteers, and a clear mission to remove the obstacles to young refugees’ education and wellbeing.

The world needs many more Hope for the Young’s so this world can be a better place by giving access to bright people to serve humanity and achieve their goals.

Rahand, a Grantee

Our Impact to date

250+

grants awarded to young people to access further and higher education
100%

of young people either completed or continued their studies after receiving a grant in 2023.
87%

of young people said their knowledge of their rights had increased
78%

of young people said their English and communication skills had improved as a result of mentoring
73%

of mentees improved their confidence and self-esteem
86%

of young people furthered their pathways to education/employment as a result of mentoring
96%

of mentors felt they had made a real difference in their mentee's life
100%

mentors would recommend mentoring to another
92%

of grantees felt supported to pursue their long-term career and educational options

It’s been really interesting and rewarding seeing the young people

that I have mentored grow in confidence and learn how to become

independent, accessing services themselves.

Sharon, a mentor

Shems and Alex

Shems arrived in the UK without any family members in 2021 after fleeing Ethiopia. Although he was only 17 years old, he was subjected to an age assessment on arrival, which mistakenly categorised him as an adult, over 10 years older than his actual age. He was instantly removed from temporary foster care and transferred to a hotel, leaving him vulnerable and far from his support network and friends. Shems felt “isolated and unhappy”, as he was much younger than the other residents, and was not being offered the appropriate support that an unaccompanied child should have. Whilst at the hotel, he was referred to Hope for the Young by a support worker and matched with Alex, a Volunteer Mentor living nearby.